NEW manager Terry Butcher has yet to meet the Newport County AFC players but he already has the respect of every member of the squad, says Kevin Feely.

Centre-back Feely, who extended his contract at Rodney Parade for another year on Friday, cannot wait to work with Butcher next season.

And he is certain that the former England captain will improve his game and make County harder to beat as they aim to improve on a ninth-place finish in League Two in this campaign.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Feely. “I’ve worked with managers who were defenders before and I’ve always found that they are generally successful.

“They create teams that have a solidity about them and, from what I’ve heard, Terry’s teams – Inverness in particular – they’re really solid teams that don’t concede a lot.

“As a defender that’s my main priority so if he can bring that to the team I’ll be really happy working with him.”

Feely was born in 1992 – two years after Butcher won the last of his 77 England caps as skipper in the 1990 World Cup semi-final defeat to eventual winners West Germany.

But the 22-year-old is well aware of his new manager’s legendary status in the game.

“I know all about him,” said the Irish under-21 international. “His career speaks for itself with 70-odd England caps.

“He’s already got the utmost respect from everyone at the club.

“He doesn’t need to prove anything to us, other than that he can lead us as a manager, which I’m sure he’ll be brilliant at.”

Feely is one of five Exiles players currently contracted for next season, alongside Joe Day, Mark Byrne, Yan Klukowski and youngster Kieran Parselle.

Having nearly quit football in favour of Gaelic football last summer, Feely says it was a no-brainer to take up his option of another year at Rodney Parade.

“I was lucky that I had my future in my hands and it was an easy decision to make,” he said.

“I’ll go home for the summer and enjoy playing a bit of Gaelic again but this is my job.

“My career is over here at the moment. I’ve signed a contract and that’s where my future is.

“This year personally hasn’t gone according to plan with a couple of operations,” he added.

“I missed out on quite a bit of football through injury and it was frustrating that I couldn’t get a regular run but the team has progressed and looks like doing it again next season.

“If I can be a part of that then overall I feel I’ve made the right call.”