MIDFIELDER Mike Flynn has revealed his frustration after a red card ruined his hundredth – and possibly final – start for Newport County AFC, writes Andrew Penman.

The 34-year-old, who also helped develop the club’s academy talent as a youth development coach this season, was sent off in first half stoppage time against Oxford United last Saturday.

Flynn maintains that there was no malice in the challenge on Oxford’s Michael Collins and says the dismissal soured what should have been a special day.

“It spoiled it to be honest and I’m a bit frustrated,” he told BBC Radio Wales.

“There was no intent; I genuinely went for the ball but I just mistimed the tackle.

“But these days you can’t even tackle one-footed. Unless you’ve got full control if the ball you’re leaving yourself out there.

“I’m big enough to accept that it could end up in a red card and, it doesn’t make it any better, but I was obviously gutted.

“It was my first start in five months and I was really enjoying it,” he added.

“I felt that my fitness was quite good and, even though we were 1-0 down, it was just nice to be back out there.

“I’ve just recently had a little boy and he came for the first time. I wanted to score him a goal but it didn’t quite work out.”

Like the majority of the squad, Flynn is out of contract this summer and he admits he does not know what the future holds.

“Your contract runs until the end of June and the way it works these days is if you’re not fixed up then you get a month’s severance pay, which takes you up to the end of July,” he explained.

“Even if you get fixed up with a club and you don’t earn as much then the club you’re with has to make up the difference.

“I can only speak for myself and I wanted to prove my worth and really show I’m worthy of a new contract,” added Flynn.

“I think that’s the way you’ve got to look at it. There’s no point feeling sorry for yourself and using excuses because, at the end of the day, if you do well you get rewarded, whether it be with Newport or someone else.

“There’s always someone else watching in the stands and if Newport don’t want to keep them then there’s someone else who will want them.

“I’m not sure where I stand. I’ve obviously got to sit down with the club and see what they want to do.”

Flynn also pointed to the success of the academy this season with Kieran Parselle signing a pro contract this week and offers also made to Regan Poole, Aaron Collins and Tom Owen-Evans.

“In the academy this season we’ve had four players offered pro contracts and two of them in the Welsh set-up so I’m really proud of what we’ve done this year,” he said.

“It’s been a real positive year and with the budget being cut for the first team I’m sure these boys will be given more opportunity to go and make a career for themselves.”