NEWPORT County AFC go into their penultimate game of the season tonight against Chesterfield free from the considerable strain they were under this time 12 months ago.

By the end of the clash in Derbyshire (kick-off 7.45pm) the Exiles could have secured a fourth win in five and a new club record for points in a campaign since returning to the Football League in 2013.

Victory at the Proact Stadium would also take Michael Flynn’s men into the top 10 in League Two, a position which they could then cement away to Carlisle United on Saturday.

It was Carlisle that County travelled to late last April in the hope of ensuring their survival with one fixture to go.

They looked on course to do just that at the interval thanks to Mickey Demetriou’s early goal, but the hosts struck twice in two second-half minutes to pile the pressure on the Exiles.

Everything turned out well in the end for Flynn’s side – we all know what happened on the final day of the season – but the manager remembers that Brunton Park loss very vividly.

“The last time we went to Carlisle, I’m sure during the half-time team talk I was filling up and nearly crying because it was so emotional and nerve-racking,” he said.

“We were 45 minutes from being safe and in typical fashion we went and lost.

“This club gets to me, it pulls at your heartstrings, and it was a lot more tense and stressful last season.

“This season has been enjoyable in the main and one where we’ve really progressed.”

And Flynn knows how tough it can be should you fall into the National League.

He added: “It’s a harsh one because nine times out of 10 the teams who go down really struggle, unless they’re a really big club like Luton.

“Chesterfield might be okay but the likes of Hartlepool and Wrexham have struggled, Grimsby struggled for a while, and Luton were in there for a while and throwing money at it.

“Forest Green were throwing money at it and couldn’t get out so it’s tough down there and we’ve got to make sure we give ourselves the best chance of staying in the league next season.”

As for next season, Flynn has already tied down two players to new deals and has plenty of business still to do in the summer.

“There are a couple I’ll speak to, they’re a little bit more complicated than the other two (Dan Butler and Scot Bennett),” he said.

“There are going to be teams watching our players as well because of the season we’ve had.

“There are going to be one or two who get offers that we won’t be able to compete with, that’s something we can’t do anything about.

“What we can offer them is an improvement in their own ability, progressive results in the league and a place where they’ll be well looked after. Those are the kind of things we rely on.

“We’ve got a chairman who goes above and beyond in welcoming people and doing what he can for their families, as do a few of the other board members.

“It really goes to show that it takes a lot more than just offering somebody a contract and getting them to sign it.

“The amount of work I’m doing already to try and get players for next season, the amount of work I’ve done with the chairman and chief executive, people don’t see this and a few are quick to point fingers.

“They need to come and have a look properly at what’s going on because it really is a credit to the club that we’ve got these people doing their jobs.”

He continued: “What you do in the summer is so important, the recruitment is crucial.

“The position we’re in, with finances and everything, I’ve got to get a head start and try to get my targets in early.

“If I get into a bidding war with anybody I’m not going to win so I need to try and get business done as soon as possible.

“I need to get one or two others but I’ve also got to be mindful that I need to strengthen in certain areas, and that will be my reason why one or two will go as well.”