EXILES defender Darren Jones will “do anything” to ensure his hometown club remain in the Football League, writes Ryan Robinson.

Newport County AFC are six points from safety in League Two with just eight games of the season to go.

They will bid to cut the gap to three today with a fifth successive defeat of Portsmouth at Fratton Park (kick-off 3pm).

Avoiding the drop is, of course, what everyone at Rodney Parade wants, but Jones feels it would mean just that bit more to those local players in the squad.

On the fight to keep County up, he said: “It means everything to us, especially the likes of myself, Flynny (boss Michael Flynn) and Pipey (David Pipe),” he said.

“We’re Newport boys and it means a lot to us, and we’ll do anything for the club. Obviously, it means the world to everyone, but just that little bit more to us.”

He added: “We just have to keep the pressure on the teams above us. When you’re bottom of the league you are always trying for that extra mile.

“They can see we’ve picked up and will be nervous going into games. It’s only two games out of eight so it’s easily done.

“We’ve lost seven or eight on the bounce so I don’t see why other teams can’t do the same.

“I know one of the sides above will crack so if we cut out the defensive mistakes and keep cutting the points down then we will have a great chance.”

Jones made his return to the side for the 1-1 draw with Luton on Tuesday after being sidelined for two weeks with a knee injury.

The 33-year-old will again be available for selection today when third-placed Pompey are the opponents.

County have won all three games at Fratton Park since returning to the Football League, with Jones scoring in last season’s 3-0 triumph.

“We’ve always done well down there,” he said. “I don’t know why but we always enjoy playing at their place.

“I thought we deserved to win against Luton so hopefully we can go down there and put in another good performance.”

Jones’ appearance on Tuesday was his first under caretaker boss Flynn.

And while he admits it feels strange calling his friend the manager, he believes everyone is enjoying the fresh start.

He said: “I’ve known him since school and always called him Flynny, so I have to remember to call him gaffer now.

“All the lads are getting used to it, it’s a big change at this stage of the season, but one we all enjoy.

“He’s taken the pressure off us a bit. Although Graham (Westley) wasn’t pressurising us constantly, his aura created a pressure, and the gaffer now has just told us to enjoy it.”

Asked if Flynn should get a shot at the top job on a permanent basis, he said: “I don’t see why not. He can’t do any worse than the other managers.

“He’s a local boy so who else knows this club better. He’s Newport County through and through.”