NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn hopes to add to his squad this week as he steps up his plans for the 2018-2019 campaign.

County already have 14 players signed up for next season with Joe Day, David Pipe, Dan Butler, Mark O’Brien, Mickey Demetriou, Scot Bennett, Jay Foulston, Matty Dolan, Robbie Willmott, Josh Sheehan, Tom Owen-Evans, Lamar Reynolds, Padraig Amond and Momodou Touray all under contract.

Flynn has also offered new deals to injured captain Joss Labadie, fellow midfielder Ben Tozer and striker Frank Nouble.

He is waiting for a response from the trio and has also been in discussions with potential new recruits.

“Hopefully we’ll have some news soon,” said the Exiles boss.

“I’m talking to new players and we’re still waiting on one or two things with the ones we’ve offered contracts to. We’re going to find out very soon.

“Contractually you’ve got to give them a month. That’s the Football League rules.

“If they come back to us and turn it down or accept it before that then great, at least you know where you are.

“We’ve got 14 signed up for next season. Some of them will go out on loan but I’ll always give them a chance and if I’m pleasantly surprised that’s a great thing.

“But I’ll freshen it up again and hopefully we get to a place where we’ve got a strong squad and we’re competing at the right end of the league.”

After masterminding the club’s Great Escape from relegation in 2016-2017, Flynn’s first full season in charge of his hometown club produced an 11th-place finish in League Two.

And he’s proud of what he has achieved over the past 14 months alongside assistant Wayne Hatswell and management consultant Lennie Lawrence.

“We were unbeaten at home against the top seven and that’s a fantastic record and only two teams did the double on us – Colchester and Barnet,” said Flynn.

“We didn’t kill teams off a lot of the time and that’s what I’m looking for – ruthlessness.

“When you get that opportunity you have to put it in the back of the net and when you get the opportunity to block that chance you block it.

“We overachieved and it’s something I’m proud of and something that the club and the supporters should be proud of.”

Flynn also praised the help and guidance provided by the board of directors, particularly operational chairman Gavin Foxall.

“The chairman has been very supportive throughout my tenure and that goes a long way,” he added.

“You need that support and advice. I don’t know everything and I’m very keen to learn.

“And I’ve learned a lot more in these 14 months in charge of Newport County than I would going into an easy job where everything is done for you.”