NEWPORT County should never have got rid of striker Sam Bowen, according to the man himself.

Bowen bagged five goals for County in just 13 appearances - all in his last five games - before being released as part of the end of season cull.

A proposed move to Barry Town fell through with the departure of manager Colin Addison but Bowen is working back to full fitness after a back injury and has several offers on the table, including one from a Nationwide North club and he is training with Midlands Alliance side Westfields.

He said: "I think Newport made a mistake in letting me go. I will score goals wherever I go because that it is what I am about.

"Give me the ball either in the box or 25 yards out and all I am thinking about is how I am going to score. " County have made wholesale changes to the side this season but still look a bit threadbare up front and although both Jamie Moralee and Carl Wilson-Denis have looked good, they are not out-and-out poachers. This is something Bowen was and still is.

Some sections of the County support were converted by the end of last season as Bowen looked to have put a nightmare spell behind him and there are still some who argue that he was worth a place in this year's squad, something Bowen agrees with.

He said: "I think I could have done a job for them this year. There are a lot of tough defenders in that league, especially with the London clubs, and I don't mind a bit of rough and tumble.

"But I have no gripes with Peter Nicholas. He stuck by me, in public and behind closed doors and I will always appreciate that.

"There were other things going on behind the scenes but that's football."

He added: "I am glad that they have got off to a good start this year and wish them all the best.

"They have made a lot of changes and seem to be going for it this year."

But does the 28 year-old expect to back at Spytty any time soon?

He said: "I would never bite my nose off to spite my face. If Peter called me up and asked me to come back, I would definitely sit down and talk about it.

"But I won't hold my breath and I have got plenty to think about at the moment. You never know.

"It would be nice to think that that the County fans remember me fondly."