Newport County will not lock horns with a Nationwide League team in pre-season as the Exiles aim to get on to the front foot for their Dr Martens League campaign.

Assistant manager Glyn Jones insisted training ground practice on improving Newport's players 'fitness and organisational skills' would be more beneficial than an extensive list of pre-season friendlies.

Jones also confirmed that fitness gurus will take training sessions when the players return for pre-season training on June 5 and he claimed: "The players will be fitter than ever."

County's highest-profile fixture on their eight-match summer schedule is a home clash with AFC Wimbledon - a game that could earn Newport a bumper payday.

AFC Wimbledon are a break-away club made-up of ex-supporters of Football League Wimbledon, currently in Division One.

They were against the new board's proposal of moving the club's home from Merton in south London to Milton Keynes, more than 50 miles away.

In their first season, The Dons finished third in the Combined Counties League, one division below the Ryman League. AFC Wimbledon broke attendance records everywhere they visited and were the best-supported team outside the Nationwide Conference with an average home gate in excess of 3,000.

They will visit Newport Stadium on Saturday, August 2 (3pm), two weeks before the Dr Martens League season opens, and Wimbledon secretary Trevor Williams said: "I am sure we will bring a fair few fans.

AFC Wimbledon also include Peter Nicholas' son Mike who is expected to line-up in midfield.

"The club will lay on coaches in what will be our longest-ever away trip so far. We expect to bring about 500 or so fans to Newport."

AFC Wimbledon, Welsh Premier League Carmarthen Town (away on July 29) and Dr Martens League Western Division side Mangotsfield United (away, August 5) are the toughest sides County will play in pre-season.

Newport will also play at Welsh League sides Newport YMCA, Caerleon and Caldicot Town as well as Gwent County outfit Pill AFC.

"You win nothing in pre-season," said Jones, Peter Nicholas' right hand man.

"What really matters is when the league campaign starts. We will be on the back foot against Football League clubs and we don't want that.

"We want this pre-season to be about how we play and not about how other teams play against us.

"We want to get on to the front foot and attack right from the beginning of the Dr Martens League Premier Division next season.

"That's why we've chosen these pre-season fixtures.

"Most of our work will be on the training ground anyway.

"Newport County's players will be fitter than ever as we'll have fitness specialists taking some training sessions as we take a more scientific approach. Also we will improve players' organisational skills."

The Dr Martens League fixtures are due to be announced in early July.