NEWPORT County boss John Cornforth, pictured, is backing his side to move clear of the Conference South relegation dog-fight, but admits he is fast running out of options to turn things around.

The County chief watched his side slump to a 2-0 defeat at Cambridge City at the weekend, just days after financial problems at the club forced Cornforth to release three senior players - Carl Wilson-Denis, Eddie Duah and Jonathan Coates.

Question marks still remain about the future of other senior players at the club, with both Jason Bowen and Jamie Moralee linked with a move out of Spytty Park.

Cornforth is hopeful both players will be allowed to stay, but he is under no illusions about the task ahead for his extremely young side.

He explained: "I have a great belief in all the players at the club but we are most certainly in a relegation battle and in those situations it is the teams who have experience who will do well.

"What was it someone once said? You don't win anything with kids. But with the situation we find ourselves in we must back the existing squad regardless of age, because the lads keep battling and fighting.

"We still have four senior players and they must give everything they have got to help the side and to keep the spirits up because we can get out of trouble, we are playing except that we just can't get the ball in the net!

"Obviously the side is very young, for instance the captain is only 22 years of age, but if we are totally honest and realistic, if it wasn't for our academy we would be struggling to put a team out at the minute.

"The players know the situation we are in but if we can possibly strengthen the squad, which is ultimately not a decision in my hands, then I will bring one or two in." Cornforth felt his side were unlucky at Cambridge, where ex-County stopper Duncan Roberts was superb for City.

He said: "Duncan was man of the match and was superb for them, but I must praise our supporters who have been outstanding in the last few weeks, they really keep us going."