Warren Feeney: Manager careful over Newport County recruitment

Warren Feeney played for both Cardiff City and Swansea City

Manager Warren Feeney wants to sign the "right players" to help Newport County progress next season.

County finished 90th out of 92 in the Football League and did not win any of their last 11 games.

The Exiles have offered new contracts to eight players and released 13, with Feeney looking to add to his squad.

"There is a lot of players but they've got to be the right players," Feeney said.

"I don't want a season like last season - it was about staying up.

"I want to progress, I want to get up but it's not going to happen overnight."

Feeney has offered terms to eight players and taken up one-year options on 19-year-olds Tom Owen-Evans and Kieran Parselle.

Mark Byrne, Andrew Hughes, Alex Rodman, Danny Holmes, Darren Jones, Scott Boden, John-­Christophe Ayina and Medy Elito have all been offered new terms.

Feeney hopes they stay with the League Two club for the 2016-17 season.

"I want to keep the core and I've told them that," Feeney told BBC Wales Sport.

"I would like them to stay because I want to build around it.

"But I know that there will probably be a couple of those who will wait and might look at other things.

"Their heads will be turned by their agents. But the grass isn't greener on the other side."

The former Northern Ireland striker has allowed 13 players to leave the club including Yan Klukowski, Matt Partridge and Scott Barrow.

Feeney wished them well for the future but said changes were needed for the club to move forward

"I've said to them it's nothing personal but unfortunately that's the job we're in," Feeney said.

"It's not about me, it's not about them. It's about this football club progressing."