NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admits the club is probably not ready to go up this season but he’s urged his players to stick together and build towards a bigger and better promotion push next year.

County are now 10 points below the play-off places after last week’s defeat to Crewe Alexandra.

And, with just eight games left to play, they know that tomorrow’s home clash with sixth-placed Coventry City (kick-off 3pm) is a must-win if they are to maintain any hope of a top-seven finish.

“We’ve raised the bar in terms of expectation levels at this football club,” said Flynn.

“We were nearly relegated this time last year and now we’re 12th.

“We all want to be up there but as long as you’re improving year after year it allows the club a chance to grow off the pitch as well.

“If you ask me, and I’m being truthful, were we ready to go up? I doubt it.

“But that’s not to say that I’ll be telling them not to go up.

“That’s up to the club to work out if we go up because this bunch of players want to go as high as they can and I definitely do.”

It’s that desire to perform at a higher level that will leave some players with a dilemma this summer – do they stay and help the club continue to progress or do they look to move on?

Flynn is certainly anxious to keep the core of his squad at Rodney Parade for next season, including captain Joss Labadie (below) who had surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament injury on Monday.

South Wales Argus:

“Those who are out of contract are all playing for their careers,” said the Exiles boss.

“Some of them may be looking to go elsewhere but they need to be careful because look at what’s happened to Joss.

“He wasn’t looking to go anywhere else. When the offer came in for him in January he wasn’t interested one bit so that’s not a sign of a player who’s looking to get away.

“But they’ve got to be careful. I’ve made offers to a couple of players and if they want to drag it out they can drag it out but, trust me, I’ve got a lot of targets and if I get those targets then they’re on the scrapheap or they’re fighting to get a contract.

“Once you get agents involved it doesn’t always help things,” he added.

“They’re always looking for a little bit more money for the players.

“And any agent is going to tell them to hold on until the end of the season. That’s the way of the world but I want to get things done now.

“I can’t afford to wait around and we’re Newport County – we can’t pay over the odds.

“The budget is the budget and that’s fine by me. Would I like a bit more? Yes. Am I going to get a bit more? I doubt it. I’ll just get on with what I’ve got and we’ll cut our cloth accordingly.”

Flynn argues that the team spirit within the squad is something the players should cherish and they may not find it elsewhere.

He continued: “If players are happy here and they think we’re going to improve next season and get closer to going up is it worth taking a big risk [and moving] for the extra £200 a week?

“If it’s the league above you have to applaud that but if it’s a sideways step?

“I’d want to play somewhere where I was happy and settled but that’s up to the players and their agents.

“That team spirit and togetherness can honestly give you 10 points a season and maybe more.

“But if a player wants to listen to somebody’s advice, which is not always in their best interest, then that’s up to them. I can’t do anything about that.

“We’re Newport County and we can’t pay over the odds. We can’t really pay transfer fees and we can’t afford the big wages that are in the league at times.

“If we lose a player to [bigger] wages then there’s nothing I can do about that.

“We’ve just got to try to find someone who’s better or equally as good for less money.”