NEWPORT County boss Peter Beadle has confirmed that talks are planned for next Wednesday with former skipper Darren Jones and defender Andrew Thomas.

The pair were sacked by the club on December 28 after being found guilty of assault and sentenced to a year in prison last November, but both men are scheduled for release on Tuesday.

Beadle has visited the players since they were jailed and is open to the idea of bringing one or both of them back to the club if the board members and supporters are in agreement.

He explained: "Darren and Andrew are released next week and after the Dorchester match (away on Tuesday night) is out the way I will talk to both of the boys.

"I don't know what the future holds for them but certainly there is a possibility of one or both of them coming back here.

"They are both focused on getting back to football when they are out and are both in good shape, they have both actually lost weight.

"Obviously we have issues to discuss with the board before making a decision on them, but I am looking forward to speaking with them."

Beadle is also upbeat about his prospects of signing a striker.

"We have had slightly more positive news on the centre forward front," he confirmed.

"After weeks of 'no 'and 'maybe' answers to our enquiries we have now entered into negotiations on a player, though I don't want to jinx it by jumping the gun and announcing too much.

"But it is definitely looking promising and I think we could have a few new faces at the club within the next fortnight or so."

Beadle is confident his side can beat St Albans on Saturday, even though he rates the visitors the best team in the Conference South.

Second place St Albans visit Newport Stadium (kick-off 3pm) hot on the heels of league leaders Weymouth, but Beadle is relishing the prospect of taking on the side who broke County's resistance to sneak a 1-0 victory with an injury time goal back in October.

Beadle explained: "I am strongly of the opinion that St Albans are the best team in the Conference South, I have seen them a few times and believe them to be the best side by a long way.

"They are strong, competitive, skilful and quick and will give us a really tough game.

"However, it is a game I am really looking forward to.

"We are in decent form ourselves and I know the lads are feeling confident about their chances."

Beadle also revealed he had banned talk of the dreadful Newport Stadium playing surface, though he acknowledges it is a problem.

"Obviously our pitch isn't the best in the league, in fact it is terrible, but I don't want to hear the players going on about it," he said.

"It is what it is, we can't do anything about it and the pitch isn't just bad for us, it doesn't help the opposition at all either and that is why we can't and won't use it as an excuse."