CARETAKER manager Jimmy Dack has hinted for the first time that he may be tempted by the prospect of becoming Justin Edinburgh’s full-time replacement at Newport County AFC.

Dack, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has previously played down talk of him taking the job on a permanent basis, was in jubilant mood after Saturday’s 2-1 win at promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers.

Two goals from Yan Klukowski sealed the victory and saw County maintain their place in the League Two play-off positions.

“We’re nearly coming into March now and we’re sixth in the league,” said Edinburgh’s former assistant.

“That’s not by luck, it’s from hard work and we won’t be shouting from the rooftops.

“We’re going to continue the work that Justin Edinburgh did at this football club,” he added.

“He did a fantastic job when he was here but it’s the players on the pitch who matter.

“We’ve all worked hard to get into this position and we’d be fools to let it go.

“I’m going to get my head down and work hard for this football club, for the players, the directors and most of all for the supporters.

“I want to see if I enjoy it first but the boys are making it hard for me not to take the job.”

The players and staff gathered together in a celebratory huddle after the final whistle and Dack says that shows the team spirit is strong.

“I can’t say what was said in the huddle, we’ll keep that in house, but it’s been a traumatic last month and all the boys are pulling together,” he said.

“Every team has peaks and troughs but this team bounces back quickly. It did at the start if the season and we had a little dip but we’ve got going again and we have to build on.”

Dack was full of praise for 19-year-old left-back David Tutonda, making his debut on loan from Cardiff City, and insisted that striker Chris Zebroski remains part of his plans despite not featuring in the past two games.

“David was brilliant,” he said. “He turned up to training late on Friday and I was going to fine him. He was supposed to start at 10.30am but I only made the call to Cardiff at 9am so I was probably being a bit harsh on him!

“He’s eager and he wants to play and he should be pleased with himself.

“That was his first Football League game and he’s a credit to Cardiff City and himself.

“Zeb was on the bench but obviously not in the squad,” he added.

“He’s back in training on Monday and he’s going to get his head down and try to get himself back in the team.”