loan ranger Andrew Mumford is poised to make his move to Newport County permanent.

The former Wales under-21 international - whose three-month loan spell at Spytty Park ends today - and Swansea City are on the verge of agreeing an amicable settlement on the remainder of Mumford's contract at the Vetch, due to expire next summer.

That is music to Exiles boss Peter Nicholas' ears as he is desperate to sign the 22-year-old midfielder, who has impressed in his 18 outings for the Dr Martens League club.

Swans manager Brian Flynn last night revealed: "I've been speaking to Peter Nicholas regularly and he would like to sign Andrew Mumford by Friday.

"Mumford's representatives are now speaking to ours and we are coming to an agreement on the remainder of his contract. It could be that Andrew Mumford is no longer a Swansea player by the end of the week."

Mumford's agent Leighton James, an ex-Welsh international colleague of both Nicholas and Flynn, was in negotiation with the Swansea hierarchy yesterday as Mumford spoke of his desire to join County permanently.

And County chairman Wallace Brown insists his Dr Martens League club can afford Mumford's wages if the player and Swansea part company.

Mumford sighed: "Obviously I hope something is sorted out with Swansea pretty quickly because not playing for the next few months is the last thing I want.

"I'd be gutted if I couldn't play competitive football regularly for the remainder of this season.

"But Leighton James is negotiating with Swansea on my behalf so I am hopeful that a deal can be brokered soon.

"I've enjoyed my time at Newport very much and I was happy with the way I performed so I would love to play there on a permanent basis, even if that means I am employed on a non-contract basis.

"All I want to do is enjoy my football. I know the lads at Newport well now and they're a great squad."

Mumford has been instrumental in County's Premier Division improvement - and victory against second-placed Hinckley United at Spytty Park on Saturday could rocket the Welshmen into the top five.

"Andrew Mumford has done very well for us and now hopefully we can take things forward," said Exiles boss Nicholas.

"We're hopeful that he could play against Hinckley on Saturday so we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope something can happen in the next 48 hours."