CAPTAIN Ismail Yakubu says Newport County AFC have to make the most of manager Justin Edinburgh because he won’t be at Rodney Parade forever, writes Andrew Penman.

Yakubu is one of the few players who remain from the pre-Edinburgh days at the club and as such is in a perfect position to judge the manager’s impact.

Since Edinburgh’s arrival at Spytty Park just over two years ago the Exiles have made dramatic progress on and off the pitch.

In his first season he staved off the threat of relegation to the Conference South and guided a misfiring team to a first ever Wembley appearance in the FA Trophy.

Then in 2012/13 Edinburgh secured promotion back to the Football League via the Conference play-off final – after 25 years in the non-league wilderness.

Those achievements haven’t gone unnoticed and today’s opponents Portsmouth are just one of a number of clubs to have sounded out Edinburgh for their managerial posts.

The south coast club approached County for permission to speak to the Exiles boss but that was denied and Richie Barker has now taken over the reins at the 2008 FA Cup winners.

Yakubu, who returns from a hip injury for today’s clash at Fratton Park, is delighted that Edinburgh will be in the away dugout rather than the Pompey one but he knows that the boss will eventually be tempted away.

“Words can’t really describe how key he’s been to the club’s development over the last two and a half years,” said Yakubu.

“Since he’s come we haven’t looked back. We seem to be getting higher and higher and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon.

“So the longer he stays here the better but the one thing I’ve learned in my career is that good things don’t last forever so we’re just going to have to make the most of it while we can.

“He’s done amazing things here so it’s only natural that he’s going to attract lots of clubs, that’s just what happens.”