THERE is perhaps no aspect of Newport County AFC that currently wouldn't benefit from some bold management and strategy.

From the boardroom to the boot room, from the dug-out to the back offices, Newport need to recognise that they are in danger of frittering away the feelgood factor that they've managed to maintain ever since a first visit to Wembley.

Attendances are dwindling, rumours are increasing in frequency and levels of being preposterous and results are clearly suffering, with Newport picking up only four points their last seven matches.

The Exiles have dropped out of the play-off zone, have lost their manager and currently look to have as much menace and cutting edge in attack as Jonathan, the 183-year old tortoise from the South Atlantic isle of St Helena thought to be the world's oldest land mammal.

Jonathan has survived two world wars and eight British monarchs from George IV to Elizabeth II, and 51 prime ministers, but County fans need not suffer the same level of upheaval if the club make some bold moves in the coming weeks.

And first on the agenda, should be increasing communication with increasingly frustrated supporters.

I've noticed an increased level of anger towards the Argus in recent weeks, a classic case of shooting the messenger because fans want a more direct line to the club. And deserve one.

How dare we not be writing about a story on the BBC story about the club? Why hasn't rumour A, B or C been put directly to Howard Greenhaf? Why was X, Y or Z stated in the Argus or in a radio interview?

The fans want more clarity from the club and by means of a recent example; the Exiles would do well to consider the furore surrounding a perfectly reasonable comment from Greenhaf on BBC Radio Wales recently.

"The good thing for us as a football club next season is that all of the players are out of contract, there's only a few left," admitted Greenhaf.

"So whoever is there will have a clean slate. Justin was aware of that and was really looking forward to starting again with another new squad."

Verbatim, that is how Greenhaf's comment appeared online and I can fully understand why it unsettled so many supporters.

Is Greenhaf honestly saying the club are getting rid of all the players? And that Justin was happy with this? Why are we asset stripping?

The reality of course, is that this is simply a case of Greenhaf pointing out that most players are out of contract this summer and the next manager will have the choice of renewing deals or not, with very few players being forced upon him for another season.

That's a sensible viewpoint, but it should be Newport County making sure they are sharing information on their terms, not down to a local columnist to translate every slip-up or ill-considered word.

Communication is the least Newport fans should be getting at an unsettling time, but surely the argument for looking to appoint a new manager is becoming more and more compelling.

The whole notion of placing Jimmy Dack in charge was based on the Exiles maintaining their fine form from this season and minimising disruption, but at present, disruption or not, the Exiles look like they'd benefit from a fresh voice.

I made my case last week for the fact that Dack is not a long-term candidate to succeed Justin Edinburgh and as such, the current crop of players know he's unlikely to be the one deciding in May or June if they do or don't have a future at Rodney Parade.

A bold approach, in identifying the person they want to take the club forward and going out and getting them now, which allows for planning for next season to begin, would be a statement of intent from the Exiles.

They will be crazy if they aren't consulting with the likes of Osian Roberts and Carl Darlington down at Dragon Park, the FAW technical director and his staff have seen the good, the bad and the rest at their centre of excellence down the years in terms of the future of British coaching and they'd be a superb sounding board.

County need to be looking at the tried and tested, someone like Gary Johnson or Mark Yates - both local and both with experience of dealing with clubs with smaller budgets in the Football League or should be looking to the future with someone more progressive, a James Beattie or Steve Burr.

There is also the possibility of ticking the latter category and keeping a sense of what it is to come to Newport County AFC, with ex-players like Steve Jenkins and Tony Pennock also worthy of consideration.

Even if their bad run continues, the Exiles are a top half side in English football's fourth tier and interest in taking the club forward will never have been greater.

And speaking of forwards, it's surely time for Dack himself to be bold and take a chance on Joe Parker.

Everyone is assuming the ex-Gloucester man to be one for the future, but the Exiles can't buy a goal and that potentially makes him one for right now.

Tim Harris describes Parker as quick, tenacious and a natural goalscorer and having backed his judgement so many times in the past with successful results, County should look to do so now with their young striker.

It would be a bold move to begin blooding a rookie at this level, but County really would do well to remind themselves than in football, fortune often favours the brave.