Former Sunderland forward rejects new EFL contract after player of the season campaign | OneFootball

Michael Spellman has left Newport County after rejecting a new contract, despite being voted the club’s supporters’ player of the season.

The club said in a statement that he had chosen to move on and thanked him for his commitment.

He scored five goals in 2025-26 as Newport avoided National League relegation on the final day. His exit follows summer departures of winger Bobby Kamwa and captain Matt Baker.

Spellman arrived in July 2024 after two years on Wearside, initially joining Sunderland on trial in March 2022 before earning a permanent deal that June.

He made one EFL Cup appearance for Sunderland, then had loans at Whitby Town, where he scored once in four games, and Blyth Spartans for the rest of 2022-23.

Before that, he came through Park View Academy and hit 19 goals in 23 outings for Chester-le-Street United, including 14 in 16 in the Wearside League. A 2021 trial with Livingston did not lead to a move. He later signed a two-year deal at Newport and scored seven across his two seasons, five arriving last term.

Source: Sunderland Echo