Ambitious UK non-league side Newport County are the latest professional team to forge links with the Bermuda Hogges.A “verbal agreement” has been struck for Hogges to become a feeder team for Newport, whose manager Anthony Hudson is a long-time friend of Paul Scope, the franchise’s co-owner.Hudson is familiar with several of Hogges’ squad from his time coaching in the US and has sounded out Scope about three players who he believes are “ready-made” for the Conference National the fifth tier of English football.“Anthony is more than familiar with many of our more senior players from when he coached at Wilmington Hammerheads and Real Maryland,” said Scope, who recently finalised a football development partnership between the Hogges and Major League Soccer (MLS) side Toronto FC.“He’s spoken to me about three players he’s interested in, who he believes could play at the Conference level, so we will have to see what develops.”After meeting the club’s chairman Chris Blight about strengthening ties between the two teams, Scope hopes Newport can provide a permanent pathway into the pro ranks for the Island’s top players.As part of the agreement the South Wales club, who narrowly missed out on this season’s play-offs, could visit Bermuda for pre-season training.“Newport are very positive about the link up and there’s been a firm handshake on the agreement,” said Scope. “It could be a great opportunity for some of our older players.”Toronto FC last month became an official partner with the Hogges, with the Canadian side’s academy director Stuart Neely set to attend the Hogges’ first two games of the season.Scope stressed that Hogges’ link up with Newport would not affect their partnership with Toronto, who are primarily interested in youth players to join their academy teams.“Toronto are interested in our younger players for their development teams, whereas Newport want players who are ready-made for their first team squad,” he said. “The Toronto academy director has wasted no time in taking a look at us and will be over next week for our first two matches.”Hudson, the son of former Chelsea and England midfielder Alan Hudson, took charge at The Exiles last month after being recommended to the club by Harry Redknapp. The 30-year-old former West Ham apprentice spent almost a year working under Redknapp as Spurs’ reserve team coach.Yesterday Newport announced they would be turning professional with the club becoming a full-time outfit.Since their revival in 1989 Newport have been part-time, training twice a week. However, after winning promotion in 2010 to the Conference National the Exiles have had a mixture of full-time and part-time players, but from now on will train every day as they look for a return route to the Football League.They will begin their new schedule from the start of pre-season.