AS PREDICTED, last week was indeed a busy one for Newport County AFC with four new arrivals at Rodney Parade.

And manager Michael Flynn reveals in today’s Argus that he wants “another five or six” new recruits before the League Two season gets under way at – joy of joys – Mansfield Town on August 4.

So any worries about the Exiles starting the campaign with half a team can be put to bed.

And those perturbed by the lack of a shirt sponsor, after Mr Tom decided they were no longer ‘nuts about County’ after four years, should also have their concerns eased this week.

Of course, in relation to the players coming in, it’s also a question of quality as well as quantity.

Obviously the fab four have yet to kick a ball for the club yet so it’s far too early to say whether they will be a success in South Wales.

But, judging by their performances against County over the past few years, the quartet certainly have the potential to be successful signings.

Fraser Franks did not impress in his one loan appearance for the Exiles back in 2012 but nor did Andrew Hughes, his central defensive partner that day at Lincoln City.

Hughes has since gone from strength to strength, moving on to Peterborough United and last week sealing a big move to Championship sleeping giant Preston North End.

Granted, it has been a very long slumber for the Lilywhites but they are one of the Football League’s original powerhouses and it’s a fantastic opportunity for County academy graduate Hughes who surely won’t be far off the Wales squad if he starts the new season well.

And, while he can’t match Hughes’ meteoric rise, Franks has an impressive track record of his own over the last six years or seven years.

As well as captaining the England C team, the 27-year-old has helped both AFC Wimbledon and Luton Town win promotion to the Football League and also won the Conference South title with Welling.

And in three years at Stevenage he has established himself as one of the most reliable centre-backs in League Two, winning three club player-of-the-year trophies in the 2015-2016 season.

According to Flynn and Franks himself he was offered a new deal to stay at Broadhall Way but he opted instead to return to Newport and he looks like being a welcome addition to the squad to play alongside or at least challenge established duo Mark O’Brien and Mickey Demetriou.

The other three signings from last week all fall into the ‘have something to prove’ category and that can be a powerful motivating factor in itself.

A lot of County fans will have been excited by the announcement of Jamille Matt’s arrival as he’s been a big thorn in their team’s side in the past.

Many will recall the Jamaican-born striker bagging a hat-trick against Justin Edinburgh’s men while he was at Kidderminster Harriers.

Matt also caught the eye against Graham Westley’s side in 2016 when he was playing for Blackpool, who he helped win promotion to League One via the play-offs.

And he netted against Flynn’s men last season while he was on loan at Grimsby Town, although he blotted his copybook later in that game by being sent off for an alleged elbow on his former Harriers teammate Demetriou.

Matt’s goal record has been unimpressive in recent years with only four in 36 appearances for Grimsby last season.

But he did prove he can be an asset at League Two level with a goal every other game during a loan spell with Plymouth Argyle in 2016 and he should be fired up to prove he is still a potent Football League striker with County.

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The arrival of Keanu Marsh-Brown (above) was also widely welcomed by supporters, despite the winger’s reputation as a maverick who can blow hot and cold.

The 25-year-old is capable of scoring spectacular goals – as evidenced by his wonder-strike in the 2016 National League play-off final for Forest Green Rovers – but he clearly did not see eye to eye with Mark Cooper.

The Rovers boss appeared to view Marsh-Brown as a luxury player, telling our sister paper the Stroud News & Journal last year: “One moment of magic now and again is not enough for us in the league we are in now.”

Marsh-Brown ended last season on loan at Dover Athletic and was not a regular starter there but he was apparently courted by a League One club this summer and, judging by his interview with iFollow Exiles, he is not short of confidence.

And if he gets off to a good start he could quickly become a fan favourite at Rodney Parade.

Charlie Cooper’s season-long loan move from Forest Green received a mixed response from County fans but it could also prove to be a shrewd piece of business by Flynn.

Cooper suffered as a consequence of being the manager’s son at the New Lawn and will hopefully be judged less harshly in Newport.

A new environment away from the Gloucestershire boo boys could provide the former Birmingham City midfielder with just the fresh start he needs.