NEWPORT County AFC have been linked with a move for St Neots Town striker Tom Meechan.

BBC Cambridgeshire reported this afternoon that Meechan was discussing a move to the Exiles from the Southern League Premier Division side.

The free-scoring frontman has also spent time training with League Two rivals Crawley Town and National League promotion hopefuls Eastleigh in recent days, according to the Hunts Post.

Meechan scored 53 goals for Godmanchester Rovers last season and has continued to be prolific since stepping up two levels when making a summer switch to St Neots.

He has struck 26 times in the current campaign and Saints chairman Lee Kearns wants to keep hold of his star striker until the end of the season.

Kearns told The Hunts Post: “Tom has had a few days at Crawley and Eastleigh, which we authorised.

“Nothing has come from those spells as yet and it is a case of seeing where it goes and whether any firm offers are made.

“If that happens we will have to take a good look, but our priority right now is ensuring we stay in the Southern League Premier Division.

“We need our leading scorer to help us do that and we want Tom to be here until the end of the season.”

But caretaker St Neots boss Andy Davies said today: “Tom is in discussions elsewhere and was left out of the squad today.

“There are three-or-four opportunities for him to move to a higher level, and we have left things to Tom and his agent."

Speaking in a post-match interview with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Davies added: "He was at one of those clubs today to meet the first-team manager and hopefully there will be some more news on it in the coming week.

“He will be a massive loss to the club if he does go, but we have never been a club to stand in the way of players progressing if they have aspirations to play at a higher level.”

Meechan is currently contracted to the end of the season and has previously played for St Ives Town – where former County favourite Conor Washington started his career.

In October the Daily Mail reported that Meechan was being chased by a host of clubs in the Football League, including Championship and League One teams.