IT’S been another busy week at the club with two of our promotion heroes heading for the exit but the most important news is that Justin Edinburgh is staying as our manager.

We were all sorry to see Danny Crow and Christian Jolley being released because they are both great lads and both made a huge contribution to getting Newport County AFC back to where we belong.

But I know I can speak for everyone at the club when I say that we’re all delighted that the gaffer has ended the speculation about him going to Gillingham.

I’ve seen people trying to say that the rumours were the reason for our defeat at Cambridge last week but that’s not true.

We didn’t let it affect us and we were fully focused on that game. It’s just that we were very poor on the day and they were very good. It’s as simple as that.

But, having said that, it is still a massive boost for everyone for Justin to show how committed he is to this club.

I played at Gillingham for three years so I know what a good club it is with a good fanbase and it will have been a tough decision for him.

But I’m sure he’s made the right one and it’s up to us players to show him that he has.

He’s the best manager this club has ever had and I really believe that we can achieve promotion this season.

Justin is always going to get linked to jobs at clubs higher up the pyramid because he’s done such a good job here.

And if we do go up again it will be another addition to his CV and bigger clubs than Gillingham will come calling.

We’ll deal with that when it comes but for now we’re all looking forward to putting things right at Northampton this afternoon.

We were well beaten at Cambridge and we took that on the chin but we’ve moved on now and the perfect response will be three points at Sixfields.

I’m sure there will be a few changes to the side after a 4-0 defeat and I’m ready to step in if called upon having played 90 minutes in our friendly win over Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Kevin Feely and Rene Howe played as well so we’re looking in good shape in terms of injuries.

I played as a sweeper in the game and really enjoyed it. I told Darren Jones and Ismail Yakubu that playing in defence is easy.

They should try playing in midfield where the hard work really gets done!

I reckon playing at the back could extend my career by a couple of years and if I’m needed there I’d be up for it.

That game, which we won 3-1, was also a good opportunity for some of our rising stars in the academy to catch Justin’s eye.

I was really pleased for Kieran Parselle to get a goal and Aidan O’Kelly and Tom Owen-Evans both played really well alongside the first teamers.

They gave the manager food for thought and Kyron Tolland, one of our under-16s, also impressed in a short cameo.

Kyron has only just turned 16 but he’s definitely one to watch having also scored for the under-18s at Bournemouth last week.

He could be the next Regan Poole in terms of the impact he could make but that is further down the line.

I’m so pleased for Regan that he’s had such a great run in the team and his performances are showing why a club as big as Fulham want him so badly.