NEWPORT County defender Darren Jones is urging the club to seek investment rather than expertise ahead of next season.

The Exiles have announced a slew of new non-executive additions to their board in recent weeks, despite chairman Les Scadding making clear he’s pulling back his financial investment in the club.

Without the extra help of their Euro Millions winning chairman, the Exiles have confirmed reports that they will cut their wage budget from next season by around £300,000, from £1.3 million.

And Jones, who is out of contract in the summer and has been one of Newport’s most consistent performers of the campaign, would love to see money men joining the likes of Nathan Blake as members of the County family.

“I don’t know Nathan personally, obviously I know he’s from Newport and I know about his career and it is good that he’s come on board,” Jones told the Argus.

“But maybe we need someone to come on the board who has a lot of money. It’s all well and good taking people on with experience and all that, but really we need someone with money.

“The budget is being cut next season and the players and club will struggle if that’s the case, it needs someone to come in with money who can drive the club forward to where we want to be.”

Jones was happy to hear Jimmy Dack has been appointed as manager until the end of the season, with Dack the driving force behind recruiting Jones, the duo having forged a good working relationship at Aldershot Town when both served under former County boss Dean Holdsworth.

However, the manner of finding out the next was somewhat unorthodox for the acting Exiles skipper.

“I found out about Jimmy from social media, that’s where I found out, I didn’t have a clue and nor did I know about Nathan Blake coming on board until someone told me in a shop,” he said.

“I think social media is running the place, but I am really happy for Jimmy and pleased he is going to be our manager until the end of the season at least.

“From day one when Justin left, we were all happy to have Jimmy, we’ve been with him and know him inside out, he’s a top guy and will do well here.

“Personally I’d like him to stay on. I’m not sure if he wants to, that’s down to him and the board, but we are all behind him. And if we get into the play-offs, I think that will make it very hard for him to leave.”