TEENAGE star Regan Poole turns 17 today with Newport County AFC manager Terry Butcher urging him to reject a Premier League move and sign his first pro contract with the Exiles.

Poole, who made 12 appearances as a 16-year-old for County last season, has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Liverpool amongst others since making his Football League debut last September.

He was close to a move to Championship club Fulham in January and enjoyed a week-long trial with Liverpool’s under-18s team last month.

But Butcher, a former England captain and fellow centre-back, would like Poole to follow Andrew Hughes’ lead and commit his short-term future to the Exiles.

“Regan has been away with Liverpool but I’m hopeful we can get him tied down here now that he is 17,” he said.

“We need to sit down and talk and find out his plans and he will want to know our plans as well.

“I see him very much as a part of the first team squad here – he is too good for the under-18s – and he has every chance of starting matches for us next season.”

Poole is currently halfway through a two-year scholars’ contract he signed last summer and if he were to move on County would be due compensation.

Butcher is also planning on taking a hands-on approach to the future of the County academy, with the role of academy manager currently being advertised for a second time.

And he has stressed that previous applicants, including last season’s player-coach Mike Flynn, are not out of the running.

“We just wanted to broaden the spectrum of the candidates and see what else was out there,” said the former England captain.

“We’ve had some good applicants from further afield but everyone will be considered and interviewed.

“The club has done very well in that department recently,” he added.

“It’s exciting that young kids are choosing Newport over Cardiff or Swansea now because they see we have an open door for youngsters.

“I love to see them coming through and there is definitely a clearer pathway to the first team here now.”