NEWPORT County AFC boss Michael Flynn insists that just because plans are being put in place for next term doesn’t mean he is “writing off” this season and a late bid to reach the play-offs.

Friday marks Flynn’s first anniversary as Exiles manager, with the 36-year-old hoping to celebrate the milestone by picking up three points at Yeovil Town on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Skipper Joss Labadie returns from suspension for the League Two fixture, but there are doubts over the availability of Frank Nouble, Mark O’Brien, Robbie Willmott and David Pipe.

Flynn, speaking today following a board meeting on Wednesday night, says he now has a better idea of what his budget will be next season and where he can strengthen the squad.

He is also “quietly excited” about the club’s ongoing contract talks with Labadie, one of several players discussing new deals.

But while Flynn is preparing for the future, he has not taken his eye off a potentially lucrative prize at the end of the current campaign.

The Exiles are winless in their last seven league games and sit eight points off the play-off places in 13th position.

When asked about retaining players, he said: “There are one or two irons in the fire and up until last night I probably didn’t know what I was playing with.

“Now I’ve got more of an idea I can start having a look at what I need to bring in, where we strengthen, the players we keep and the players we don’t keep.

“One thing I’m always going to be is prepared because I’m already thinking about next season, and that’s not saying I’m writing off this season.

“Whether we go to League One or stay in League Two there will be plans for both scenarios.”

And on whether promotion is still the aim, he added: “You’ve got to take it game by game.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re in a position where we’ve got a chance going into the last couple of weeks of the season.

“Last season I wanted to get to the last game with a chance of staying up and that’s what we managed to do.

“That was taking it game by game and this will be no different.

“We’ve had a blip. We should have beaten Forest Green and Port Vale but we didn’t.

“It’s a little bit frustrating because then we would have been more like four points off the play-offs.

“It’s small margins and I’m not getting carried away either way.”

County looked resigned to relegation at this stage of the season last year before a remarkable run under Flynn, then caretaker manager, saved them from the drop.

Flynn began his tenure as boss with a 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra, two days after taking the reins following Graham Westley’s sacking.

Assessing the past 12 months, Flynn said: “It has been an unbelievable year with the progress we’ve made on and off the pitch as players, staff and board – it has been phenomenal.

“It has been a massive achievement and it’s something that I’m very proud of.

“I’m maybe 60 games in now and you learn something from every one.

“It’s a good experience and I’ve got Lennie Lawrence and Wayne Hatswell around me who are quality operators at any level.

“It has been interesting, the way I’ve had to deal with the media excitement, the board meetings and everyday dealings with the fans, every aspect has been new.

“A lot of good things have happened this year and I’m hoping the next year is even more successful.”

He continued: “I want to bring stability to this club and I want to keep improving it on and off the pitch.

“You need time and support for that. You need support from the fans, your staff, the players and the board.

“Thankfully I’m getting that and hopefully we will keep going in the right direction.”