NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney says the club is not in a position to offer players new contracts but he’s not worried about captain Mark Byrne being distracted by links to Gillingham.

Byrne is out of contract this summer and former Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh, now in charge of the Gills, this week confirmed that he would like to sign the midfielder at the end of the season.

Feeney would like to keep Byrne but says the club cannot offer new contracts to players before securing their place in League Two for another campaign.

And, as he prepares his side to take on Barnet at Rodney Parade on Saturday, he says his focus and that of his players is fully on staying out of the bottom two.

“Justin’s a great lad – he was on my Pro Licence [coaching course] – and that’s football,” said Feeney of Edinburgh’s comments on Byrne.

“At the end of the day it shows you what a good player Byrney is.

“You can’t stop speculation and if he wasn’t playing well then people aren’t going to come and watch him.

“Byrney is a strong character; he’s the captain of this club for a reason.

“He’s one of my best players but football’s football. I know the way it works.

“I know Justin well but it won’t affect us,” he added.

“We’ll get on with it and Byrney is that type of character – he’s well respected in the dressing room and he comes in with a smile on his face.

“That’s what I want about the place.

“It’s a good game for him this weekend as well against his old club.

“You don’t worry about speculation or comments. At the end of the day he’s a footballer and he’s paid by this club.

“He’s a professional and he’ll get on with it.”

I’m sure there are a couple of players here that there’ll be a fight to keep but we have to stay up in this league and cross that bridge when we come to it.

“I don’t think we’re in a position to offer contracts to anyone. You can speak to players but you don’t know where you’re going to be.

“Players want to play at the highest level. If you’ve got anything about you as a player you’ll want to play as high as you can, whether that’s staying in this league or playing in the league above.

“I think you’ve got to dangle carrots for players but they’ve got to keep playing, keep working hard and it will take care of itself.”

Feeney continued: “I can’t have any distractions at the moment.

“That’s not to say I don’t want to keep them but you’ve got to get over the line first.

“You can offer contracts to players but they will hold out until the end of the season, and that’s not just our club – it is clubs up and down the country.

“There will be so many players available come the end of the season but I know what I’ve got in my dressing room.

“They respect each other and they work hard and that’s the focus – the rest will take care of itself.”

Feeney confirmed that only goalkeeper Joe Day and striker Lenell John-Lewis are currently contracted for next season.

“That’s right,” he said. “And that’s the risk you take offering one-year deals.

“I’m not saying you’ve got to offer everyone two or three-year deals. I think that’s gone outside the Championship.

“There is going to be a lot of interest in our players because they’re putting in some very good performances.

“You’ve got to give the players credit and I want to keep them but I’ve got to look out for this football club and we’ve got to stay in this league.

“And if we stay in this league then we’ve got a better opportunity of keeping these players.”

Feeney says he is targeting more signings with the re-opening of the loan window on Tuesday.

"There was one or two I was hopeful of getting before the [transfer] window so there could be stuff happening," he explained.

"We're speaking to potential loan players and those who may be unattached."