Holdsworth hopes to sign up quartet

11:10am Thursday 8th January 2009

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NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth has targeted four new faces ahead of Saturday’s vital Blue Square South clash with Bognor.

The Exiles boss chose to allow striker Rob Duffy to join his twin brother David, the new manager at Mansfield Town, on a free transfer this week.

The striker had fallen out of favour with Holdsworth and the move was good for both parties with Duffy based in the Midlands.

However, Holdsworth was rocked by the departure of striker Craig Hughes, who has opted to rejoin Carmarthen Town for personal reasons, leaving County with just one senior striker, Craig Reid.

Chris Hartland is closing in on a loan move to Cinderford, managed by John Relish’s son Lee, with the three departures allowing Holdsworth some room to manoeuvre on the transfer front.

The Argus understands Holdsworth’s first swoop will be to sign Salisbury loanees Wayne Turk and Aaron Cook on permanent deals, both of which should be concluded today.

Both Cook and Turk have told the Argus they are keen to stay and play for Holdsworth and Cook is likely to take the permanent captaincy at Spytty Park.

However, the boss won’t rest on his laurels and after ’20 or 25’ phonecalls yesterday is also hopeful of signing a winger and a striker before Saturday’s clash.

The wide midfielder’s arrival is unlikely to break the bank, Holdsworth hopeful of adding Steve Butterworth from Romford. Butterworth scored 15 goals for Holdsworth when he was Redbridge manager and he is also close to agreeing to sign up at the Newport Stadium, Holdsworth having unsuccessfully tried to land him in the summer.

The Argus have been asked not to name the striker who has been approached, as several other clubs are also keen.

It is not Matt Tubbs, tentative interest in him is over after the player indicated he was unwilling to join Cook and Turk at Newport.

"It’s been a crazy couple of days, Rob left the club which was a good situation for us and for him and that freed up some funds," Holdsworth explained.

"But Guppy leaving came as a bolt out of the blue and it’s vital that we now strengthen our squad, we were short of numbers before they both left and we certainly are now.

"Chris Hartland will be going out to get some games, us just chucking him in now because we are short would put huge pressure on him and that isn’t how we want to develop players. But he certainly hasn’t ‘gone AWOL’ as someone said on the messageboard.

"We are incredibly short of numbers but I would just ask fans to remain patient and we should have some really good news to report at the end of the week. Hopefully these are signings for the long term and will give us some stability.”