OUTGOING chief executive officer Alex Tunbridge has told Newport County AFC fans to be patient as the club looks to add to the squad this summer.

County manager Michael Flynn has 14 players signed up for next season and is still waiting to hear if Frank Nouble and Joss Labadie will accept new contract offers.

Ben Tozer yesterday rejected a new deal to sign for Cheltenham Town and the Exiles have yet to bring in any new recruits this summer.

But Tunbridge, who will depart for a similar role with League Two rivals Stevenage next month, told fans at Wednesday’s open supporters’ meeting not to panic.

“As it stands there are 14 players engaged [for next season],” he said.

“It’s a little bit quiet on players coming in but we’re not panicking, we’re just taking our time and seeing what the market does.

“It’s going to be a bit of a different transfer window this season because it shuts earlier – the day before the Premier League season starts and a week after our season starts.

“Then you’ve got a two-week window for the loan market and I suspect that will be pivotal again for the club.

“The message is just be patient because they will come and they will be the right moves for the club.”

Tunbridge also gave fans an update on the club’s pre-season plans.

County have already announced pre-season matches against Undy AFC, Chippenham Town, Penybont and Hereford and there are more friendlies to come.

“Lots of people ask why we never play Premier League sides,” he added. “Unfortunately they play their games against lower-league sides early and then jet off to the Far East, America or Australia.

“They don’t want to be playing games towards the end of pre-season, which is when we can get on the pitch at Rodney Parade.

“That said, we are going to kick off hopefully at Spytty against a Championship side on July 11.

“We’ll have another game against a Championship side behind closed doors before we take on Hereford and we’ll probably look to squeeze one more game in against a National League side on July 24.

“Then we’ll hopefully play what will be our showpiece game at Rodney Parade on July 28, subject to the work that is being done on the pitch at the moment.”