NEWPORT County AFC boss Warren Feeney is building a close relationship with Bournemouth with the hope of Cherry-picking some of the Premier League club's bright talent.

The Exiles manager spent Tuesday in Dorset watching Eddie Howe put his squad through their paces as they prepare for a second season in England's top flight.

Feeney played over 100 games for the Cherries between 2001 and 2004, playing alongside manager Eddie Howe, assistant Jason Tindall and goalkeeping coach Neil Moss while his link with another former teammate Stephen Purches is even stronger – he is the brother in law of the development coach.

The County boss is keen to expand his horizons and strengthen links with a club who upset the odds to finish 16th in their first campaign in the Premier League.

"They want to help us, which is a big thing," said former Northern Ireland striker Feeney, who scored 36 goals for Bournemouth when they were in the third and fourth tier.

"It was good to go down there and see what a Premier League team does and they are looking to put a couple of players out, and it's fantastic if they do.

"I am in talks with one or two regards coming in from down there and it'd be great for the club if we could do a deal.

"I played with Eddie, Jason, 'Mossy' and my brother in law, who has been a development coach there for years. It was difficult to last year after coming in during the season but they want to get a good link with us."

South Wales Argus:

"They are a Premier League club and I am all for learning," continued Feeney, who also was an interested observed at Cheltenham versus Bristol City on Monday.

"It'd be a great link to have with Bournemouth and they want to help us so hopefully we can get players in to help them progress as well, but they have got to be the right ones."

This season emergency loans in the English Football League have been scrapped at the behest of FIFA and deals must now be between transfer windows rather than month-to-month.

Players cannot be brought in outside the windows and nor can they be recalled by their parent clubs, although there are exceptions for goalkeepers.

Stoppers can be recalled on 24 hours' notice if there are not two fit players at the club and can be brought in on an emergency loan if there is no senior keeper available who has made at least five appearances.