ANDREW Thomas is likely to re-sign for Newport County, but the club look set to lose out in a bid to lure back former skipper Darren Jones.

Jones and Thomas were both released from prison on Tuesday after serving time for assault, and the pair, who were sacked by County in December, are both confirmed targets for manager Peter Beadle, who spoke with them on Friday.

Beadle, commenting after Saturday's morale-sapping loss to Lewes, admitted that Thomas has been training with the County academy and was keen to come back to Spytty Park.

Thomas is in line to play for a couple of weeks with Welsh Premier League strugglers Cwmbran Town (starting with their game tomorrow against Cardiff Grange Quins), in an effort to boost his fitness and match sharpness.

However, Jones has been training with Forest Green Rovers and is unlikely to favour a move to County if he is offered a deal to stay with the Conference side.

Meanwhile, Beadle spoke of his anger at losing a home game that once again his side could have taken something out of on Saturday.

"We have come away with nothing from a game we should have taken something from, based on performance alone," he reflected.

"In the first half we played the better football considering the wind and we got punished with sloppy defending, though I thought the first goal was a good two yards offside and a dreadful decision, he was miles off, it wasn't even close.

"We showed our defensive frailties throughout, and that is disappointing because it is things we have worked on.

"We gave them a free header from a corner (for the second goal) and the defending for the third goal was awful. We can't keep doing it if we want to survive in this division."

Beadle remains upbeat on his side's survival prospects despite slipping to the bottom of the league. "The performance was better and in recent weeks we have matched several teams in the top six of the league, which gives me belief, but we must produce results.

"I thought the players gave me a lot on Saturday and no-one played badly, we need to re-group and focus on Weymouth next week."