NEWPORT County AFC chairman of operations Gavin Foxall says relegation would cost the club around £400,000 but he’s confident that caretaker boss Michael Flynn will keep the Exiles up.

County are now two points clear of the League Two relegation zone with two games remaining after winning six of their 10 games since Flynn replaced Graham Westley last month.

They Exiles can seal survival this weekend if they win at Carlisle United and rivals Hartlepool United fail to beat fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town.

Flynn was part of the team that secured promotion back to the Football League via a Wembley play-off final in 2013 and Foxall says relegation to the National League would be a "massive" blow.

"To lose that status again, in a relatively short space of time would be pretty devastating for the fans but also for the city of Newport," Foxall told BBC Wales Today.

"As a revenue the club turnover is about £2m a year.

"In impact terms as we sit today we are looking at losing around 20 per cent of that about £400,000, direct money from the Premier League which comes from being in the Football League.

"As a board we are looking at ways we can plug that gap in the event we do have a negative outcome.

"Given the job Michael has done, we are hopeful that is not the case."

Foxall also says he expects County to remain at Rodney Parade next season.

Fellow tenants Newport Gwent Dragons are subject to a takeover bid from the Welsh Rugby Union, who have said they see Rodney Parade "as a rugby venue."

County have a lease to use the ground until 2023 and they have primacy of fixtures on the venue if they remain in the Football League.

"Our view is quite clear – we've got a contract," Foxall said.

"That is something that we're expecting to be honoured.

"Obviously there is a vote in early May by the shareholders for Newport Rugby and we'll wait and see what happens with that."

The WRU's takeover of Newport Gwent Dragons will be put to the vote on Tuesday, May 9.

Newport RFC chairman Will Godfrey said both County and Newport Squash Club, who are also based at Rodney Parade, are protected under their current agreements.

Godfrey said the WRU had been made aware of that fact but the WRU have signalled their intention to install an artificial surface, which is against Football League rules.