NEWPORT County manager John Cornforth and the board of directors will be in the firing line tonight as the club hold a Fans' Forum, at the social club from 7.30pm.

The Exiles have slipped to second bottom of the Nationwide South and are now staring relegation in the face with tonight's meeting sure to be a lively affair.

With budgets being slashed and the side being decimated as a result, fans are bound to be asking what went wrong and why it happened.

As well as the board coming under scrutiny for the way this season has panned out, fans are likely to question some of the decisions by the manager, as some supporters will voice concern over signings and tactics.

County have no fixture this weekend, due to opponents Bishops Stortford having FA Trophy commitments, giving Cornforth extra time to strengthen his squad before the crucial trip to Weymouth on Saturday week.

"Hopefully we can have two or three new faces in by then," said Cornforth last night. "I have made several enquiries regarding possible loan moves and it is a case of waiting to see who can come in.

"The results at the weekend went against us a bit (relegation rivals Welling, Maidenhead, Havant and Weston all won) but the lay-off will give the players a bit of time to shake off injuries and we will have the Redbridge game to fall back on.

"If we can pick up a few wins before facing them it could be that one which will get us safe." On tonight's forum, Cornforth was more guarded, perhaps in anticipation of a rough ride from frustrated supporters.

He said: "Of course fans are not going to be happy where we are in the league but we are not happy either.

"I think they would be over the moon if we stayed up with the last kick of the ball in the season.

"Obviously I would hope it doesn't come to that but it is looking like it will go all the way to the wire."

Cornforth revealed that he is not tolerating any talk of relegation in his dressing room.

"If any of them were accepting relegation already, they would be out," he explained.

"That doesn't bare thinking about and we're still only a couple of wins away from safety."