Newport County couldn't match offers to keep key men - Coughlan

The Exiles hunt a top-half finish in League Two when they welcome Crewe Alexandra to Rodney Parade (kick-off 12.30pm).

Coughlan has steered County away from trouble at the bottom of the table but won’t be able to keep the same group together for 2023/24.

A number of leading figures – including captain Mickey Demetriou, Cameron Norman, Priestley Farquharson, Aaron Lewis – are approaching the end of their contracts.

IMPROVING: Priestley Farquharson has had an eye-catching campaign (Image: PA)

Coughlan wouldn’t name the individuals but revealed Monday will be a last outing in amber for some.

“We will lose one or two players, that will be sad because we have really enjoyed working with each and every one of them” said the manager.

“One or two are at that stage of their careers where they are sought after by clubs from the higher echelons. We can’t compete with what they have been offered.

“That’s sad because I would have loved to keep them all together and try to push on by adding to the group but that’s football. They’ve probably earned it, fair play to them.”

Coughlan once again stressed that there won’t be wholesale changes at Rodney Parade, with James Clarke, Scot Bennett and James Waite among the others nearing the end of deals.

County have appointed Chris Finn, who worked with the boss and assistant manager Joe Dunne in the January transfer window, as head of football operations and have already lined up some additions.

County manager Graham Coughlan with assistant Joe Dunne and coach Jarred Harvey (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I know that we will have to make some reductions, we are not daft,” said Coughlan. “Things will be tight and that’s the way it is.

“We won’t be able to compete with the big boys so we will have to go to the bargain basement and dig deep into our knowledge, experience and black books to find little gems.”

“We are well down the line [with recruitment] and have one or two that have put pen to paper already, which is a plus point.

“That gives an indication of how quickly we are trying to move. Chris has a long list of contacts and the players that he has put in front of us are of League Two standard.

“Experience tells me that at this stage of the season players don’t commit, they want to hang on and weigh up options.

“I’m forever going to meet players – I’m sick of drinking tea! I meet two or three a week that I’d like to bring in and a lot don’t come off for various reasons.

“At this stage of the season most players will absorb what you have to say and an offer, then will take it away and weight it up.

“Chris is well down the road on players and we have most of our business in hand but it’s just getting players over the line, both ins and outs. We know most of the activity we will be doing and have regular meetings.”