NEWPORT County AFC boss Terry Butcher is keen to see the transfer window close without any more departures from Rodney Parade, but fears the sharks may yet circle, writes Michael Pearlman.

The former Ipswich defender is looking to add to his squad, having drafted in two players on loan last week.

And while Butcher admits he’s run out of funds to strengthen is squad further, he has no interest in seeing any of his first team players depart.

Defender Regan Poole has been linked with a switch to a host of Premier League and Championship clubs, while the keen interest in Gillingham midfielder Bradley Dack could provide ex-boss Justin Edinburgh a transfer windfall before next Tuesday’s deadline.

Edinburgh is an admirer of midfielder Mark Byrne and goalkeeper Joe Day to name just two, but Butcher wants everyone to remain at the club beyond the window closing, though he admits Newport will plan for some late movement, just in case.

“Our squad is bulking up and the competition for places is increasing, which is good news,” Butcher explained.

“Regan attracted a lot of attention early on, but not a lot is happening with him, so he’s able to concentrate on his football.

“But the transfer window is always the same, nothing much happens until the final day.

“Then you’ve got no time to react, so it’s not ideal, but we will wait and see.

“We can’t stop people being interested in our players. And some are attracting interest because they’ve started the season well.

“If something happens, we have got options and one or two targets, players thrown at us, but we hope that we aren’t too busy and it is players coming in, rather than going out.

“Back in the day, long ago, we didn’t have the transfer window and you could buy and sell throughout the season, it was fair game.

“Now it’s restricted and we managers just have to get on with it.

“If you’ve got good players playing well, the unfairness is that team being disrupted.

“But that’s what happens. That’s the system in place and we just have to get on with it.”

Butcher admits County’s negotiating position has been stronger in the past.

“It’s true to say that (after the Argus suggested he’ll be powerless to stop calls coming on Monday or Tuesday) and I can’t just turn my phone off unfortunately!” he said.

“That doesn’t work now, people track you down!

“It’s about clubs looking to do what they can afford and clubs may view us as easy pickings. But that isn’t the case. We want to keep our squad intact.

“But all we can do is put contingencies in place in case the situation changes.

“We do have scenarios of what we will do in our minds, if he goes, or if he goes. That’s the way it has to be.

“Sometimes you just cover all the bases.”

Butcher admits there is a contrast to how some clubs treat rival teams, thought to be cash-strapped, as Newport are.

“I’ve said some clubs may view us as easy pickings, but we’ve had other clubs helping us with wages on loan,” he said.

“But I can’t pretend we haven’t lost out on a lot of players this summer because we couldn’t compete with their wages, which is exactly what has happened, and those players have gone elsewhere and we’ve lost out.

“But we’ve gained with one or two. I’ve got two players on very low wages and one on no wages at all.

“Clubs have been able to help us out due to the camaraderie in the football world. But that goes out the window on deadline day. Then it is more like a war.”