NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh is confident of securing two or three more signings before pre-season training starts on June 27.

Edinburgh has already landed two of his top targets in midfielder Adam Chapman and striker Chris Zebroski and is hard at work on strengthening the squad further ahead of the club’s League Two campaign, which starts on Saturday, August 3.

Talks are at an advanced stage with a defender and the Exiles boss is also closely monitoring several other potential new arrivals at Rodney Parade.

“We are in talks with a few people and they are progressing very well,” said Edinburgh.

“We were fortunate to get two of our main targets in as quickly as we did and I have identified other targets as well.

“I know who I want and ideally I’d like to get everything done before we return for pre-season.

“We are close with one player, a defender, and one or two others are away on holiday at the moment but I think two or three will happen before training begins.”

Edinburgh welcomed the news this week that the club has cleared its historic debt to former directors and insisted that the Football League’s Financial Fair Play restrictions are not holding up transfers.

All League Two clubs have to submit their playing budget to the League by Tuesday and that must be no more than 55 per cent of turnover.

“We have to work within a budget, which is a bit of a hindrance, but we have submitted that to the Football League and we know what we have to do,” he said.

“There’s no problem with that affecting when we sign players. That is all done.

“The debt being cleared is fantastic news,” he added.

“It is testament to the hard work that (chairman) Les Scadding, (director) Howard Greenhaf and (chief executive) Dave Boddy have put in and it really draws a line under the whole issue now.

“It’s vital for the progression of the Football Club and makes it attractive to investors.

“It’s all positive news at the club this year and now we are all eagerly awaiting the fixtures coming out next week and the League Cup draw on Monday.”

County will face one of the seeded teams in the southern section of the Capital One Cup first round, meaning they could be paired with Championship big guns like QPR, Birmingham City or Leicester City.

“There are some big names there and if we face a Championship side it will be a stern test,” said Edinburgh.

“But that is exciting and it’s a reward for all our hard work over the past twelve months.”

Meanwhile, former County midfielder Danny Rose has rejoined Oxford United from League Two rivals Fleetwood Town.

“I’m delighted to be back at Oxford United,” said Rose.

“I’m very much looking forward to pre-season and the next couple of years