Board haven't matched our ambitions, says Exiles ace

County play their penultimate game of the season at York City today and still have a mathematical chance of sneaking into the last play-off place in League Two.

But, after suffering four successive defeats, the Exiles’ chances of a top-seven finish are diminishing rapidly.

And with a host of players, including O’Connor, out of contract in June thoughts have already turned to the next campaign.

The 31-year-old says he would be keen to sign a new contract but he has not been spoken to and he has big concerns over the way the club has been run in recent months.

“I think our ambitions as players have been in different places to other people,” said O’Connor, seemingly referring to the club’s board of directors.

“Eventually I think that has taken its toll. We’ve threatened to get into the play-offs and mathematically we’re still not out of it.

“But I think there was a time, probably just before Justin [Edinburgh] left, when we could have really been backed and given one last little helping hand and I just don’t think it was there, to be honest.”

O’Connor’s main issue, one that the Argus understands is shared by a number of players in the County dressing room, seems to be with director Howard Greenhaf’s comment on player contracts directly after Justin Edinburgh’s departure as manager.

On February 8, while discussing a reduction in the playing budget for next season, Greenhaf said: “The good thing for us as a football club next season is that all of the players are out of contract, there's only a few left.

“So whoever is there will have a clean slate. Justin was aware of that and was really looking forward to starting again with another new squad.”

Greenhaf later explained what he had meant to the Argus, stating last month: “What I’m saying is we have a group that are nearly all out of contract so they need to be busting a gut or running through brick walls to try and earn a deal for next year, here or somewhere else.

“We have very few players who are secure on two-year deals and know they are assured of staying next season who can take it easy and put their feet up.”

But that has not placated O’Connor, who told the Argus that statements like that have not helped the Exiles as they attempted to stay in the promotion picture under new manager Jimmy Dack.

“I haven’t spoken to Justin but, from a players’ perspective, when you read certain things that were said when we were in the position we were in it does derail you,” he said.

“It feels like you don’t have the support and maybe he [Justin] was in a position to act on that but as players we had to stay.

“I can only speak for myself and it was a bit derailing.

“It affects people in different ways; I just get on with it but you come in here in the morning and you wouldn’t think that we were a team just three points off the play-offs.

“It’s just dead. It’s flat and it’s never been like that before and it’s not a nice feeling.

“We were there; we were third in the league,” he added. “It’s not always financially and it’s easy for us to say ‘throw money around’ because it’s not our money.

“But I don’t think I’ve once heard someone come out and say ‘the players have got our full support and we want them to get promoted.’ “I’ve never heard them say that and it would be nice to hear every now and again, especially when we were in the position we were in.

“We seem to be more interested in talking about everything we haven’t done or we’re not going to do or selling players.

“For a player that gives 110 per cent for the club every week you just want the same kind of effort back but it seems to be not a priority for other people.

“It’s definitely a missed opportunity.”

O’Connor, who has 12 goals this season after missing most of the 2013/14 campaign through injury, would like to remain at Rodney Parade, however.

“I’ve spent three years here,” he said. “It’s the longest I’ve spent at a club for a while and I’ve enjoyed it.

“If the club could make the steps to push on then next year the only place to go is up and that’s the play-offs.

“Whether that is the board’s way of thinking I don’t know.

“From what I read it doesn’t sound too good but you don’t know in football. You don’t know what happens until everything is done.

“I’d be more than happy to stay but I haven’t had anyone speak to me yet.

“I know people have been spoken to but I don’t really read too much into it. I’m sure someone will speak to me when the time is right, whether it be good or bad.

“We’re still contracted until the end of June and, although it’s nice to have things sorted and in place before the end of the season I don’t think it always works out like that.

“But ultimately you have to do what’s best for yourself. You don’t want to rush and make drastic decisions.”

O’Connor believes both he and the club have proved that they belong in the Football League this season and, despite a slight injury concern, he wants to end on a high at York today and at home to Oxford United next Saturday.

“The season has gone so fast because I didn’t play last season and I have enjoyed all the games I’ve played,” he said.

“I’m pretty happy with how the season has gone personally.

“I set my standards high and I’m never truly happy with the number of goals I score; I can always do better.

“But I knew I could play at this level and I’m happy enough with how the season has gone.

“We’ve bettered last season’s tally already and we all want to get two positive results and get as many points as we can,” he added.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of people down for the last day of the season and we want to give them something to cheer about and get them all back next season as well.”

Whether O’Connor and the players who have enjoyed such success over the last few years will be here in August remains to be seen.