NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has revealed that discussions have already taken place with the board of directors about tying down his key men to new contracts.

Goalkeeper Joe Day, defenders David Pipe, Dan Butler, Mickey Demetriou, Mark O’Brien and Tyler Forbes, midfielders Joss Labadie, Andrew Crofts, Matty Dolan, Robbie Willmott and Josh Sheehan and strikers Momodou Touray and Padraig Amond will all come to the end of their current deals next summer.

And Amond has called for County to use some of the money made from the club’s run to the FA Cup third-round, which stands at £315,000 so far, to keep the squad together.

“There’s obviously money in the bank and I think it’s important, if the club is to step forward in the right direction,” said Amond.

“We’re doing really well this year and it would be a shame for the club to lose all those players.”

Asked about the striker’s comments, Flynn said: “He’s right. You want to keep the nucleus of the squad, and we’re already discussing it with the board.

“I’ve been talking to the board for a while now and that’s one of the things we’ve been talking about.

“The players have done themselves proud and the staff proud this season, and that’s what I want them to keep doing because we’ve got a chance of having a very good season.

“A couple of them were here last year as well, which is good,” he added. “It shows the importance of two-year contracts.

“It doesn’t always work out but it keeps that continuity, it allows you to build and to improve when needed but it keeps the spine of the team together and I think that’s the reason why we’ve started well this season.

“We want to keep improving as well, and hopefully we can add to the squad in January.”

Free Press Series:

One player who won’t be involved in the Exiles’ future is midfielder Charlie Cooper (above), who has returned to Forest Green Rovers after both clubs agreed to cut short his loan move.

“It’s a chance for Charlie to go and train with other clubs and get himself fixed up in the January window,” explained Flynn.

“It’s done for his interests as well as ours. It gives him the chance to go and kick-start his career.

“He needs to play games and with everybody coming back he would have been further down the pecking order.”

Scot Bennett, Matty Dolan, Joss Labadie and Robbie Willmott should all be available for tomorrow’s home clash with League Two leaders MK Dons at Rodney Parade.

And Andrew Crofts and Mark O’Brien, who both missed Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Wrexham, could also be fit to return.

“Nearly everybody is fit,” said Flynn, who has been linked with the vacant Bristol Rovers job this week.

"It’s been a tough six weeks with the number of injuries we’ve had, but I think we’ve come through it OK.”