NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney says talk of a ‘cull’ or mass ‘clear-out’ at Rodney Parade this summer has been exaggerated.

Speaking after last week’s 1-0 defeat at home to Cambridge United – the fifth successive loss – Feeney suggested that a lot of the current squad would be heading for the exit at the end of the season.

But, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stevenage, the Exiles boss has moved to clarify his position – insisting that there will not be a repeat of 12 months ago when 15 players left the club.

“I think I was getting ahead of myself saying the whole changing room,” said Feeney. “It’s not going to be like it was last year.

“I think you’ve got to keep the core of the squad together and bring quality in, not get rid of 15 or 16 players – I don’t think you can do that because you’ll be back to square one.

“I think it’s important to keep what you’ve got – the core – and every football manager up and down the country will be saying they want to bring quality in to add to what you’ve got.

“After what I said last week a few fans were saying to me ‘you can’t do that’ and I think they blew it out of proportion a little bit.

“The boys have been fantastic for me but I want to bring in players that I know and there will be a lot of players out of contract in the summer.

“I don’t think it will be a clear-out but obviously players will leave the club,” he added.

“It’s not personal but you want to bring in your own players.

“If you got rid of 15 players you’d be back to square one again and rebuilding and you can’t keep doing that.”

Asked about former players Robbie Willmott, who has expressed a desire to return to the club, and Aaron O’Connor, who lines up for Stevenage on Saturday, Feeney said he has not got specific targets at present.

“They are two players who were here under Justin and they did well,” he said. “But until we get over the line I don’t know what way I’ll be looking and what players I’ll be going for.”