Newport County want Rodney Parade deal done by Friday

Rodney Parade is the home of Newport and the Dragons

Newport County chairman Chris Blight says they must find out by the end of this week whether or not their future lies at Rodney Parade.

Blight has called County's Spytty Park pitch "not fit for purpose" and wants to move to the home of Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport rugby teams.

"I need to be signing something by this Friday. We need to know if it's on," said Blight.

The Welsh Rugby Union have a 50% stake in the Dragons.

Blight added: "In fairness to Rodney Parade they've got to have the courtesy of a couple of days to draft the document.

"But I would like to think that we're going to be putting pen to paper by this Friday so that then I can go to Dennis Strudwick [Football Conference general manager]... and say: 'there we are, we're covered by an agreement for next season's football to be played at Rodney Parade'.

"If we don't then of course it's back to Spytty [Park]."

The Rodney Parade pitch has had its own problems and the Dragons have been punished by LV= Cup organisers for calling off their game with Saracens because of a frozen pitch, while flooding has also affected the playing surface this season.

But County have been forced to rearrange a number of home games as their pitch has struggled to cope with the inclement weather.

Spytty Park is owned and operated by Newport City Council and is also home to Welsh League side Llanwern and Newport Harriers athletics club.