Newport County boss Tim Harris has rejected speculation linking him with the vacant manager's post at Merthyr Tydfil and insisted: "I'm not going to walk out on County and go to Merthyr."

And the 42-year-old revealed that he is scouring the transfer market to bring in "a couple of fresh faces".

Harris, who has been at County for four-and-a-half years and orchestrated this season's magnificent money-spinning FA Cup run which ended in the first round proper in a home replay to Nationwide Division Two side Blackpool, was hailed as the Martyrs' saviour on their website last week.

County's Welsh Dr Martens Premier League neighbours are looking for someone to replace John Lewis, who has quit Merthyr to manage League Of Wales outfit Haverfordwest.

But speaking after Newport's 3-2 FAW Premier Cup Group B win against Gwent rivals Cwmbran Town, manager Harris said he was not going to the Penydarren Park hotseat. "It was all speculation, I am not going to walk out on Newport County and go to Merthyr Tydfil," he said.

"I love County and I love the County fans.

"I have got a job to do at Newport as we try to climb up the league table." Those are words County fans are desperate to hear. And Harris continued: "What I want is to drive this club forward.

"And I think to do that we need to get some business people involved."