You never win anything with kids. The famous words of Mr Alan Hansen.
Proved wrong by Fergie, and on a smaller scale Chris Hughes is looking to show this next season.
It seems that way by the three excellent summer signings he has already brought in, and with months of the window left yet, there will probably be more.
I was asked by the skipper Matt Cook on the way home from an away game last season to work out the sides average age. After leaving it for months, I finally worked out that on this day it is 23. Virtually unheard of in this league I feel because of the number of players who go from one club to the next and back again.
Hughes has refreshed the league, much like Bernie McNally and he seems to be blooding in kids. Not from the academy, but that is another matter. Players such as Jason Oswell, vastly experienced but still on 21 have come in, as well as the impressive Matty Owen, and goalkeeper Dave Jones.
These players are still under the league of 24 and are classed as the younger players in football.
After the research I found out that the oldest player is Cook 28, and the youngest O'Neill 18.
People like Shane Sutton are 25, however they have over 200 games under their belt. And that is another unique point for the Robins.
They have a core of highly committed players in terms of Sutton, Boundford, Williams, Mills-Evans and Zach Evans who have clocked up a high number of games for their age.
That has been a pivotal point of success and one that not many sides can boast.
I think the route Hughes has gone down on his summer signings can be praised, because he hasn't go in gun ho like Mark McGregor did at GAP in January and signed everyone.
He has waited and picked up three highly skilled players who will all improve the caliber of the Robins squad.
These youngsters such as Matty Owen who have never played in the league before will benefit from experienced players such as Matt Cook alongside them. Much like Tom Goodwin did last season.
The squad seems strong now, with 12 signed on, and more to be confirmed in the coming weeks when Newtown return to training.
The early signs are good and I am again optimistic that Newtown will challenge in the top six.
The futures bright, the futures red.
IN OTHER topics the Robins Radio programme at the end of the season was picking up views people had on the league format.
They have been mixed no doubt, but during a conversation with a work colleague this week, he gave me a unique selling point that could help develop the league.
The Welsh Premier League can not compete with other top leagues in terms of style of play as the English leagues take all the players
In terms of attendances, they can't compete either, and that is because of a number of factors such as other sports, and bigger clubs in Wales.
However if the league introduced a rule where by each side had to field five academy products in their match day squad each week, would that sell the league more.
A core of local players, which to be fair Newtown already have, would bring in more locals to watch the games because they would feel in touch with the club once more.
In the long run it could improve the standard of the younger players and be an improvement to the league.
It is just a suggestion and whether it would work I am unsure, but maybe it would, you never know.
You have to try.
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