MICHAEL Flynn says he’s done what is best for Newport County AFC and for the players themselves in allowing academy stars Rhys Davies and Rhys Kavanagh to leave the club over the past fortnight.

Goalkeeper Davies completed his protracted move to former Premier League champions Leicester City earlier this week (below).

South Wales Argus:

And striker Kavanagh joined League One Bristol Rovers on August 24.

Both were key performers as the County under-18s team won the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League 1 title last season, with Kavanagh scoring 28 times in 32 appearances.

And 16-year-old defender Jay Foulston also spent last week training with Championship club Norwich City.

Some fans have questioned the merits of selling youngsters before they have made first-team appearances for the Exiles.

But, while Foulston has made the bench this season, Flynn says neither Davies nor Kavanagh were ready to play League Two football.

“It’s difficult because we don’t have an under-23 team and neither of them were ready to be at first team level,” said the manager.

“They’ve both got potential. Rhys Davies ticks all the boxes with his size and obviously Rhys Kavanagh had a good season last year.

“But when they’ve come up to the first team [to train] they’ve not been ready and that’s the reason why we thought it was best to allow them [to leave].

“We didn’t want to step in their way because it was a chance to go to a Premier League club [for Davies] and it’s ideal for us to get some transfer money for the club.

“We’re also protected by the add-ons and sell-on fees and I’ll always do what’s best for the football club.”

And Flynn will not stand in Foulston’s way if Norwich’s interest leads to a firm offer for the teenage centre-back.

“We had an approach from Norwich and we’ll never step in a player’s way,” he added.

“It was good for Jay to go and get some experience at a top Championship club who were very recently a Premier League club.

“He had a look at the standards that they possess at teams like that and it was a good education for him.

“It came at a time when he wasn’t going to be involved in the first team squad so it was perfect.

“I’m sure they are going to keep monitoring him now and we’ll watch this space.”

Lewis Collins, another County academy player and younger brother of former first-teamer Aaron, was called up to the Wales under-17 squad this week.

And Flynn is happy for the club to be seen as a place for young talent to flourish.

“I think our academy kids get some really good coaching from Danny Elliott, who has been here a long time now,” he said.

“Obviously Byron [Anthony] is heading it up and he’s done a good job.

“And I think Mykee Jenkins, who often gets overlooked, has been brilliant with Rhys Davies.

“A lot of these players have not been with Newport for long and it goes to show that it does pay to go out and watch local games and see what you can do with the players out there.

“When you’re 16 and you’re in the first team squad that is when they start looking.

“You’ve got to have a first team manager who is willing to give youth a chance and I’ll definitely do that if I see potential in them.”