NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth doesn’t know whether defenders Paul Cochlin and Jamie Collins, winger Charlie Henry or striker Dave Gilroy will be with the club next year after the Exiles’ D-Day to sign the players passed.
The Blue Square South winners are pressing ahead with shaping their squad for next season and just two of the first team squad, Nathan Davies and Martyn Giles (who has joined Llanelli), have so far left the club, with a whole host of players committing for next term.
However, despite the deadline of Friday – which Holdsworth insisted was the date where everything would be decided one way or another – passing, the boss is still hopeful the quartet will stay on.
With Gilroy and Cochlin, it is up to Holdsworth to decide if he wishes to continue with negotiations after hearing the wage demands of the players, both of whom would be expected to fit in more training sessions around their day jobs.
Cochlin has confirmed to the Argus that he wants to stay and says he is “not a million miles away” from agreeing new terms.
However, with Collins and Henry, there is still some distance to go before any new deals are agreed.
Holdsworth, particularly close to both, appreciates the extra difficulty involved with both players based in the London area.
“That’s where we are, with Cochers and Dave, it’s about me deciding what is in the best interests of the club, bearing in mind the budget I have for the season,” he said.
“With the two London-based boys, it’s not come down to terms yet, because I need them both to think about things and whether they want to make the commitment or not.”
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