THIS is my last column of the season and I should probably start by talking about my red card last week.

I said here last week that it was going to be an emotional day but that certainly wasn’t the way I wanted it to go!

I’ve already said sorry to the rest of the lads and to the fans but I’ve looked at it a few times and I can honestly say there was no intent on my part to hurt the Oxford player.

It was a genuine attempt to get to the ball after I took a poor touch but I missed the ball and the player.

The ref said it was reckless and I was disappointed but you have to take it on the chin and move on.

We weren’t happy to lose the final game of the season but a ninth-place finish does show that the club is progressing and the fans gave Jimmy Dack a great send-off after the game.

It’s been a quiet week since last Saturday with our new manager Terry Butcher currently away on holiday so we haven’t had the usual discussions about contracts for next season.

I know some people have given Terry some stick for going away but it was a pre-booked holiday and the board obviously knew about it so you can’t really argue with that.

What it does mean is that there is a bit of uncertainty among the players who don’t know whether they will be offered a new playing deal – me included.

We’re all contracted until the end of June but the club could well end up losing some players they want to keep because people are inevitably going to start looking around to see what their options are.

There are 15 teams who finished below us who would want our players but it’s the same at every club at this time of year.

It’s a reality of life in the lower leagues that players have to worry about their future almost every summer.

Players need to know whether to extend their lease where they are staying and it can be a nerve-wracking time.

I’ve been in the game a long time so I’m used to it but I’m really hoping that I will be offered another deal to carry on playing as well as continue all the good work we’ve been doing at the academy.

It’s been a good week on that front with both Kieran Parselle and Tom Owen-Evans signing their first professional contracts with the club.

I’m made up for the pair of them and I really think that if they train with the pros every week next season they can continue their development and have very bright futures in the game.

Hopefully Regan Poole and Aaron Collins will follow their example and Terry Butcher will have a really talented bunch of home grown talent at his disposal.

I’d like to thank Danny Elliott, Byron Anthony and Mykee Jenkins for all their help and hard work with the academy boys this year and I’m really proud of everything we’ve achieved.

While I’m at it I’d also like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to Justin Edinburgh for giving me a chance with the youth team and for changing his mind about me as a player last season as well.

It shows the mark of the man that he could admit that he got it wrong and he deserves a lot of credit for all he achieved with my hometown club.

Credit too to Wayne Hatswell for his dedication and brilliant attitude and to Norman Parselle for his work in the community, which is vital for building people’s relationship with the club.

And, finally, thanks to all my teammates for everything over the last three years and, most importantly, to the supporters.

There are not many fans more fanatical about their side and you have been the 12th man for us all season so thank you all.

If that all sounds like goodbye then I hope it isn’t because I really want to be a part of this club next season as a player and as a coach.

But whatever happens I wish Terry Butcher and the team good luck because, at the end of the day, I’m a Newport fan.