 He helped Cardiff to promotion in his first season at Ninian Park, but left in October 1985 after scoring 17 goals in 139 appearances, joining local and Third Division rivals Swansea City in a swap deal involving Chris Marustik.The Swans were in freefall through the Football League and Gibbins left to join Newport County in August 1986, in effect going from one financially troubled club to another.Newport were relegated at the end of the following season, but worse was to come with the club in so much financial trouble that many of the players had to leave.