JUSTIN Edinburgh’s stunning achievements with Newport County AFC in 2013 have again seen him linked with a move away from Rodney Parade, writes Andrew Penman.

The Exiles, who were promoted from the Conference to League Two in May, look well set to challenge for a place in League One after a superb start to life back in the Football League.

The Boxing Day win at Wycombe Wanderers left County in fifth place but just three points off the top of the table and with a game in hand following the postponement of last Saturday’s clash with AFC Wimbledon.

Edinburgh has been linked with a number of vacancies since the summer and League Two rivals Portsmouth were denied permission to speak to the Exiles boss earlier this month.

And on the eve of Sunday’s trip to fourth-placed Burton Albion the former Tottenham Hotspur defender finds himself being talked about as a contender for the hotseat at Championship outfit Millwall.

Edinburgh is quoted as 25/1 joint second favourite for the job with bookmakers Stan James and 33/1 with Bet Victor following the Lions’ sacking of Steve Lomas on Boxing Day.

Edinburgh has consistently spoken of his desire to stay at Rodney Parade but admits that there will come a time when he wants to realise his ambitions.

“It might be that my ceiling is to manage in League Two, but I have visions and aspirations,” he said earlier this month.

“I’ve had opportunities to speak to clubs – and approaches – while I’ve been at Newport. But this is a brilliant club and a well-supported one. The people I work for are understanding and we have a great relationship.

“One chance to leave came from a fairly good club in League One. But looking from the outside in it wasn’t in a stable position. The grass isn’t always greener.

“It was very flattering to be linked with Portsmouth,” added Edinburgh.

“At the end of the day, loyalty is almost laughed upon in football, it’s a dirty word, but Newport gave me an opportunity when I was out of work and I feel we can continue the job we are doing here.”

And after the win at Wycombe Edinburgh stated his belief that County are genuine candidates for promotion this season.

“We are where we are in the league, the table doesn’t lie, we’ve put another marker down,” he told the Argus.

“We are in that mix and we deserve to be, we had that early start and wanted to show good intentions and send a message to people.

“When you have the chance to put pressure on your rivals you need to do that.

“At the start of the season our remit was to stay in the Football League, but it’s hard not to look at the other way now.

“If someone had offered me this return of points at the start of the season, I’d have bitten their hand off, we are where we are and we have to be positive and aim for as high as we can go.”