New boss Terry Butcher needs to 'tweak' Newport - Jimmy Dack

Newport County's players applaud their supporters after the Oxford game

Jimmy Dack believes he has left behind a Newport County squad that only needs fine-tuning by new boss Terry Butcher.

The caretaker manager's last game in charge on Saturday was spoiled by losing 1-0 to Oxford United.

"I want Terry to take the club forward and hopefully he'll do that," said Dack.

"If he can keep that group of players together they're not a million miles away... I don't think it's major work, just an odd tweak here and there."

Dack took over as caretaker when former manager Justin Edinburgh left for Gillingham in February, but has left after turning down the permanent role.

Several of Newport's squad are out of contract at the end of the season, although defender Kevin Feely has already agreed an extension to his deal.

Terry Bucher won 77 caps for England, scoring three goals

As well as trying to keep the players he wants, Dack believes that Butcher must also add to his options in attack.

"We just need someone that can get you a goal out of nothing and I think we'll get a bit closer again next year," Dack said.

"We lack a goalscorer and we lack someone else to go alongside Aaron [O'Connor] to score some goals."

County had Mike Flynn sent off against Oxford for a reckless tackle.

But despite that and the loss, Dack was happy with the performance.

"It didn't help going down to 10 men, you're always up against it, but I thought the boys, second half, showed a lot of character," Dack added.

"Probably that sums up our season, there's a lot of character, a lot of honest boys there that give their all.

"The difference between winning and losing was that fantastic finish from their lad.

"We had a couple cleared off the line, but I couldn't fault the commitment from the players and the endeavour.

"That just sums up us as a club and what we're all about as a group of players."