NEWPORT County chairman Chris Blight is stepping up his search for a successor to sacked manager Peter Nicholas and will meet with his board this week to draw up a shortlist.

County (who visit St Albans this evening, kick-off 7.45pm), have received a number of applications for the vacant post after advertising the position and Blight is confident the right man will soon be in place.

Certainly in the running is Weston Super Mare boss Frank Gregan.

Blight was at Weston's game with Weymouth on Saturday but has denied he was there to run the rule over Gregan.

He said: "I was at the Weston game at the weekend but primarily because all of the Weston players have been made available for transfer, which as a chairman is something you need to look at.

"Certainly one or two players caught my eye, including striker Marc McGregor, but while the management situation is unclear I am not going to act in the transfer market.

"The job of bringing in players is the manager's and we could have a new manager by this time next week.

"I did not go to the game to talk to Frank Gregan but seeing him in action might or might not have been of interest."

Gregan seems certain to be on the County shortlist after they sift through the applications they have received and other more high-profile names like John Aldridge and John Gorman have also been touted.

Meanwhile County face a trip to lowly Screwfix Western League side Corsham Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. County will visit the Wiltshire outfit on October 2 and Blight is optimistic of a good cup run.

He said: "It is a very interesting draw and we can't underestimate whoever we draw in the cup after what has happened in recent years.

"But they are a couple of divisions below us and it is very important to this club to have a good cup run, so we should be confident, particularly as I am sure we will take plenty of supporters with us."

Acting manager Glyn Jones had no new injury worries for tonight's trip to St Albans but Nathan Davies is still struggling with injury and was rated 50-50 and former Cardiff City stalwart Scott Young was doubtful after missing Saturday's 1-0 home reverse to Cambridge City.