NEWPORT County AFC manager Terry Butcher is set to target loan signings from the Premier League and Championship to boost his threadbare squad.

Butcher has previously stated that he wants his full squad in place by the first day of pre-season training on June 29.

That is still the target for the Exiles boss but, having so far seen 15 players leave Rodney Parade this summer and only four arrive, he is now open to supplementing the playing staff closer to the start of the season.

“Pre-season starts in two weeks and I want a lot more players in by then,” said Butcher, who has just completed the Men United London to Amsterdam charity bike ride to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

“We’re making good strides in adding to the squad and we’ve got a couple more weeks to work on that.

“It would be nice to get as many as possible in by June 29 but as to the numbers we need it is hard to say exactly.

“We can obviously look to bring in loan players from the Premier League and Championship after that date as well so I’m not too concerned.

“Those clubs come back a little bit later than us and they probably won’t know who they want to send out on loan until pre-season is well under way.”

Butcher will find out who the Exiles will take on in the first round of the Capital One Cup tomorrow morning before the Football League fixtures are revealed first thing on Wednesday.

“It’s always and exciting time of year for fans to get their diaries out and check the dates of the big fixtures,” said the County manager.

“For me it’s a chance to start looking at the key dates in the season and to start setting targets of where and when we will be able to pick up points.

County’s opening League Two fixture will be played on Saturday, August 8, with the Capital One Cup first round tie set for the week beginning August 10.

Butcher’s boys begin their pre-season friendly programme with a trip to Port Talbot on Saturday, July 11.