NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has warned his players that the season is far from over and anyone looking to “cruise through” the next two months will be shown the door in the summer.

Tuesday’s Leasing.com Trophy semi-final shootout defeat to Salford City means County only have the league to concentrate on between now and April 25.

Flynn’s men are 16th in the League Two table with 15 games to play – 12 points below seventh-placed Colchester United with three games in hand.

He admits that another play-off push looks unlikely, but he won’t any of his players take their foot off the gas.

“There is still plenty to play for,” said Flynn. “Anyone who thinks they’re having an easy ride will be out of this club quicker than I can count to three.

“I won’t be standing for it. I’ll never settle for mediocrity, in terms of what they think they can put in effort-wise.

“I don’t think they will [ease off] but I’ve given them the warning.

“And I don’t care if they’re under contract, if they think they can just cruise through to the end of the season, they’ll be out.

“Let’s take it in little steps,” added the Exiles boss.

“We’ll set targets; we’ll try to get into the top half, then we’ll try to get closer to the play-offs.

“But we’ve got to start winning games and we’ve got to start scoring some goals.”

South Wales Argus:

Flynn was pleased with the reception his team got after bowing out of the Trophy at Rodney Parade and he expects a reaction from the players when they host ninth-placed Bradford City on Saturday.

“Those supporters clapping us off at the end – that’s what this club is all about,” he said.

“That was excellent. I didn’t know how they’d react; I’ll be honest with you.

“But them clapping the players off and telling the players to get their heads up and getting right behind them and giving them a good round of applause – that’s gone down well with me.

“I’m really happy with that and that’s given me enough motivation already.

“I want to see a reaction [from the players now] and I said to the players in the changing room, ‘you’ve got to be proud, you’ve worked as hard as you can and given your all and if you’ve done that you can look in the mirror and be proud.’

“It’s when you try to cheat and cut corners, you know when players do that. But they didn’t do that. I had four or five who were limping at the end who probably needed to come off.”

Left-back Ryan Haynes is a doubt for tomorrow’s match after being forced off near the end against Salford.

“I don’t know how bad it is, but we knew the risk and it was a calculated one,” admitted Flynn, who is still looking to bring in free agents to cover injury absentees.

“I’d like one or two, but there’s not that many out there.”

Teenager Dom Jefferies, who was this week recalled from his loan spell at Salisbury, could be involved against Bradford.

“He will be in my plans,” said Flynn. “He was on the bench [on Tuesday]. I’ve had to call him back.

“He’s somebody who’s done OK when he’s played.

“He’s played one or two games this season and when I only had five on the bench, I’m not leaving ourselves short.

“It’s a good experience for him to be around it and maybe get a few games.”

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