NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn hopes to further strengthen his squad in the coming days after a frantic week of negotiations.

Flynn already has 16 players contracted for the 2017-2018 season and his main focus now is on recruiting strikers.

Ryan Bird, Craig Reid and Tom Meechan were all released last month and Lenell John-Lewis’ move to Shrewsbury Town leaves Marlon Jackson and Aaron Williams as the only out and out front men in the squad.

“We’ve got the makings of a good team now,” Flynn told the Argus earlier this week.

“We want competition for places and we’ve got a lot of defenders and a lot of midfielders.

“We need a couple more strikers and maybe one or two elsewhere and I’m sure we’ll be fine.

“I’m comfortable with where we are at the moment but I’m not resting yet. I’m sure there will be more news soon.”

The Exiles boss had hoped to conclude at least one deal by the end of this week but it now looks likely that nothing will be signed and sealed until Monday or Tuesday.

“I haven’t stopped,” he said yesterday. “I’m speaking to a lot of people and just waiting for answers now.”

The club has sold 960 season tickets for the new campaign – beating last year’s total by more than 250.

“It’s great news,” said Flynn. “It shows the excitement there is about the new season.

“And if we can get to 1,000 before the season starts it will be fantastic – the club has never done that before.”

Defender Mickey Demetriou signed a new two-year contract last week and he cannot wait to get back to training on June 29, having missed pre-season last year.

“I missed the whole of pre-season last year after getting injured up at Fleetwood so getting a full pre-season under my belt will make a big difference and really benefit me,” said the 27-year-old.

“Hopefully I can build on that form that I had at the end of last season and give the fans a few more things to cheer about.”

And Demetriou believes the Exiles can build on their impressive end to the season and challenge for the play-offs.

“I’m really looking forward to next season,” he added. “We ended the season well so hopefully we can start fresh and build on what we did.

“The gaffer has kept a lot of the squad together and we won seven out of 12 games at the end of the season so hopefully if we take that form into next season we’ll be up the other end of the table.

“We’ve got to be looking to achieve up towards the play-offs.

“That form that we had at the end of the season wasn’t relegation form – that was play-off form.

“And hopefully we can build as a team. The gaffer has signed a few players and hopefully he’s got a few more players in line to come in.

“That will help strengthen the team and we can go from there.”

Meanwhile, the Argus has contacted the Welsh Rugby Union to ask about plans for drainage work and pitch improvements at Rodney Parade but has so far not received a reply.

The WRU is due to complete its takeover of Newport Gwent Dragons and Rodney Parade on July 1.

County, who are tenants at the ground, are unable to comment on the matter at this stage.