Deano wants a striker

10:51am Friday 18th July 2008

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NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth is hoping for funds to bring in a striker or another winger before the start of the Blue Square Conference South campaign.

Holdsworth, ready to take charge of his second pre-season game tomorrow as the Exiles travel to Leamington (kick-off 3pm), has several irons in the fire as he puts the finishing touches to his squad for next season.

The rookie-boss has revealed he is very happy with the group of players he has assembled, but is hopeful of adding another attacking option.

The fact that he is pondering whether to move for a wide-man or a central striker is another clear indication that the Exiles are set for a change in formation for the season ahead.

It seems certain that Holdsworth will adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, favoured by mentor Sam Allardyce and used by Newport in the first half of their game at Cinderford last week.

New-boy Kevin Cooper and Craig Hughes are seen as figures who could play in any of the four attacking berths, so the Argus understands the acquisition of a central forward is most likely.

Holdsworth is keeping tabs on former Bishop’s Stortford hotshot Greg Pearson, but the indications are that he will sign a deal with Football League outfit Notts County.

Another target, former Premiership goal-machine Marcus Stewart, has opted to join newly promoted Exeter City despite talking with Holdsworth over a move to Spytty Park, at one point the deal looking likely to go through.

However, as suggested on County’s internet messageboards, ex-Coventry City and Jamaican World Cup star Paul Hall is a possible new recruit.

Hall, 35, has trained with Newport this week and could feature against Leamington, though he is also the subject of interest from several other clubs.

Another candidate, a former Football League and Conference striker who we have been asked not to name, is also in contact with Holdsworth.

He said: “I am extremely happy with the way the squad is shaping up.

“The squad is very competitive and much younger than last year, which was half my objective, and the budget has been reduced significantly, the other half.

“I’d still like another attacking player, either another winger or an out-and-out striker. We have players in mind, but the difficulty is that we are competing for players with League Two and Conference clubs and that is a battle we can’t win because of the level we are at.

“I am hoping to get the backing of the board to get in another player.”

Holdsworth will again run the rule over some triallists at Leamington.

Leon Fisher is again set to be involved and young midfielder Anthony Church – also from Redbridge and described as being in the Nathan Davies mould – has impressed during training.

But Holdsworth is not looking to sign any more defenders. After the Argus suggested that perhaps the Exiles were short of central defensive cover, he replied that versatility meant that wasn’t the case.

“We have Nick Skelton and Ian Hillier, but either Kevin Stephens or Martyn Giles can play at centre-back, so that is not an area of concern,” said Holdsworth, who last night took his charges on a team bonding evening including a spinning class at the Velodrome and Go-Karting.