DARREN Jones believes Newport County AFC can challenge for promotion next season.

Jones left County earlier this month and announced his retirement from professional football having helped his hometown club avoid relegation from League Two.

The 33-year-old defender will carry on playing on a part-time basis for one more season after signing for Bath City in the Conference South.

But a persistent knee injury meant he could not extend his third spell with the Exiles.

Jones will still be keeping a close a close eye on events at Rodney Parade, however, and he expects Flynn, coach Wayne Hatswell and advisor Lennie Lawrence to get the club up the table after successive relegation battles over the past two campaigns.

And, after a run of seven wins in 12 games under Flynn, he says the momentum of the Great Escape should help them get off to a good start in August.

“They need to strengthen the squad but the last few months have been top-10 form,” said Jones.

“It will be tough but with the right additions I think they have a great chance of pushing for the play-offs next season.

“Hats has got plenty of experience and Lennie even more – there’s a good mix of experience, youth and passion.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me how well they did,” he added.

“Hats took a lot of the sessions and Flynny didn’t change a lot, apart from the training schedule.

“The main thing he did was get the morale up, he took the pressure off a little bit and got the boys happy again.”

County will be up against another of Jones’ former clubs in Forest Green Rovers nest season after the Gloucestershire side won promotion last week.

“It’s brilliant for them and I’m delighted for the fans and for the chairman Dale Vince because he’s done everything for that club,” he said.

“It’s a great story for him because they’ve been trying to get into the League for so long.

“It will be another hard derby for Newport and I can see Forest Green going from strength to strength next season.”

Jones will miss playing in League Two next season but he’s happy to be going out on a high at County.

“I’m disappointed to be leaving but age catches up with you as a footballer and I feel it’s the right time,” he said.

“I don’t think I could have done another season of full-time professional football.

“And what a way to sign off!”

Speaking before his move to Bath was announced, Jones said he did not know exactly what comes next for him.

“I always said if I was going to leave Newport I didn’t want to go to another club full time,” he said.

“I told Michael a few weeks before the end of the season that I would be retiring from professional football.

“I’ve got nothing signed yet but the plan is now to play part-time somewhere.

“I’ll do one more season and then hang up my boots and set up my own business.

“It’s difficult for footballers when you retire. I don’t want to work for someone else, I want to be my own boss.”