WARREN Feeney is confident his budget for next term will allow him to bring “the right people” to Rodney Parade.

The Newport County AFC boss saw a much-changed side lose 1-0 to Notts County on Saturday, a result which took the Exiles’ run of games without a win into double figures.

Given the current run of form and the season as a whole, talk is now inevitably going to turn to who will and won’t be at the club come the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

It is likely that Feeney already has his eye on summer transfer targets, though the current squad do have one fixture left this term to impress him.

“The aim was to stay up at all costs, no matter what,” said Feeney. “They’ve done that and it gives me a chance to get my own people in.

“I’m confident of getting the right people in. I want characters in the changing room. I’ve told them that, I won’t deny it.

“The budget will be what it is. It’s one that I think I can compete with.

“It’s going to be about progression and getting the right players in.

“People will look at where we are but that doesn’t frighten me.

“I want characters to come and work hard, and that’s what I’ll be looking at.”

Saturday was Newport’s last match of the season at Rodney Parade, and Feeney is hoping it will be the last they play on the much-maligned pitch.

The Notts County clash was the 55th and final competitive fixture to be held at the ground this season, with an £80,000 renovation of the playing surface due to start on May 9.

Commenting on the pitch, Feeney added: “We’re grateful to Mark and his staff who have done a fantastic job. It’s been tough for the groundsman.

“Never once did I blame the pitch. I said it didn’t help but I never blamed it for a defeat.

“It is a massive thing. People think you can just turn up and play football.”

As for the single-goal loss to the Magpies, he continued: “I don’t think we played that badly but you could see we lacked that bit of quality.

“And like I said to the players, we got done again by a mistake. If you give mistakes away like that then you will lose football matches.

“It is the end of the season and we are safe, but we just can’t carry on giving away silly goals.”