NEWPORT County’s Supporters’ Trust need to raise £17,000 in 48 hours to become the major shareholders and owners of Newport County AFC, the Argus can reveal.

In an update provided by the Trust, it was explained that the total raised by supporters has now reached an incredible £178,000.

And Supporters’ Direct, the national body that has been assisting County’s fans, admits they have been blown away by the response, admitting the speed of funds raised is ‘unique’.

County’s fans need £195,000 to take control from owner Les Scadding, who made clear his intention to stand down as chairman of Newport and pull any and all financial support.

He is set to be repaid £300,000 in directors’ loans at £3000-a-month, interest free, with County set to get on a better financial footing after a season of folly that saw wages spiral to over 70% of the club’s turnover.

Supporters’ Direct representative James Mathie praised the Trust for the unique enthusiasm and urgency shown by supporters.

“We’ve never run a community share offer in such a short amount of time before,” he explained.

“The response has been unique and enthusiastic, very positive indeed.”

The Trust Board will be holding a number of share surgeries again this week.

They will be at Rodney Parade tonight (6.30-8.30pm) and on Tuesday at Rodney Parade in the Snelling Bar and Bisley Hospitality Bar before the game against Crawley.

There will also be a final share surgery on Wednesday, also in the Rodney Parade club shop, from 6-8.30pm with Wednesday at midnight being the deadline for County to raise £195,000.

Mathie believes the Exiles would have been in a dire situation had this season’s budget not been slashed.

“It was unsustainable, entirely, and the club needed clarity of ownership and decisions, it couldn’t continue as it was going,” Mathie said.

“The battle isn’t just raising the money, it’s the enthusiasm of the people involved that will sustain the club and the early signs; the enthusiastic response, bodes very well.”

Supporters’ Direct have helped five current Football League clubs become fan owned.

For full details of how to join the Trust and buy shares, visit www.ncafctrust.org