Newport County's captain last season Gary Lloyd has been sensationally booted out of Spytty Park. The Welsh semi-pro cap infuriated boss Peter Nicholas by taking two weeks holiday in the middle of pre-season training and a meeting last night at Spytty resulted in the 32 year-old being released.

But the former skipper hit back claiming that he had been "tucked up" by the club.

Newport County released a statement last night which read: "We have got a playing budget to work within and a lot of young players coming through who have proved themselves in pre-season both from a football and attitude point of view.

"We would like to thank Gary for his services and wish him all the best in the future."

Boss Nicholas denied any fallout with Lloyd, who he signed for Barry Town and County, and does not want to get involved in a war of words with the player so close to the start of the season.

But Lloyd insists that the reason behind the axe is purely financial and that he went on holiday late because Nicholas requested that he postpone a nasal operation until June.

He said: "I wanted to get the operation done during the season and Peter asked that I wait until the end of the season to help the team.

"I did that and they knew that it would be six weeks before I could fly after it.

"Before I went there was a contract on the table and I had done my pre-season work and it was cleared for me to go. They said one thing and then did another.

"I played in the Bristol game but when I got back, Peter told me that I was not being kept.

"I have to say I am really disappointed in the club. I really enjoyed last year, felt that I played well and was looking forward to the new season.

He added: 'The club have brought in new players like Jason Bowen and obviously they are on big money and I had to make way for them.

"It seems like I have been tucked up."

He added: "It could well back fire on them. If there are a few injuries they will be without another experienced player."

Lloyd is also disappointed at the timing of the news, with only days before the new season kicks off.

He said: "If Peter had told me at the end of the season I would have said 'okay, that's football' and got myself a new club. But to leave it so late is really disappointing."

The news is sure to shock fans as Lloyd was virtually an ever-present in last year's side and a semi-pro international.

Lloyd ruled himself out of the player-manager's job at Llanelli and said that he has no worries about finding another club as he already had been contacted by interested parties.