PLAYER of the year Paul Bignot looks set to stay at Newport County but a number of last season's squad will not be back at Spytty Park.
The popular right-back, voted your Argus County player of the year, impressed former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on trial at Leicester City earlier this month.
But the Championship outfit are believed to have cooled their interest in the 25-year-old, with Eriksson preferring a move for Tottenham youngster Kyle Naughton instead.
Bignot signed a new two-year deal at County last week, which takes him through to the end of the 2012/13 season, and manager Anthony Hudson is delighted to have retained him.
"Paul is staying, the Leicester deal is off and that is great news for us," said the Exiles boss.
"We want everyone at the club to be fully committed and to believe in what we are trying to build, and he does."
Hudson also reiterated that the club has not received any offers for star men Danny Rose and Lee Baker.
"Danny and Lee are good players who we want to keep and there have been no offers for them," he said.
"If a deal is right and it benefits the club we’ll have to look at it but there’s been no contact so far."
Hudson’s summer plans are well under way with talks ongoing to tie up the remaining squad members but five players have left the club this week.
Utility man Eddie Odhiambo has not been offered a new deal and loan players Yemi Odubade, Charlie Griffin and Graeme Montgomery will not be returning next season.
Odubade is likely to be involved in Stevenage’s League Two play-off final on Saturday alongside ex-County favourite Craig Reid.
And defender Chris Todd, who couldn’t agree terms for a new deal despite the club having an option to extend his contract, has also departed.
The Argus understands Todd wanted higher wages than the Exiles were prepared to offer and late last night he penned a two-year deal with Forest Green Rovers.
Midfielder Jamie Collins looks likely to sign with Dean Holdsworth's Aldershot Town and striker Robbie Matthews could be moving on, even though he is contracted for next season.
Meanwhile, reports this morning also suggest that goalkeeper Glyn Thompson and captain Gary Warren are interesting Cheltenham Town.
"I’ve looked at the squad and assessed what type of players I need to bring in and inevitably that means some people will have to make way," explained Hudson.
"We’re hopeful that Scott Rogers and Kerry Morgan will sign new deals and we are very close to one or two signings. Hopefully we'll be able to complete them soon."
Meanwhile, Hudson has also moved to clear up speculation that the club has forged an official partnership with a Bermudan team.
Reports from the other side of the Atlantic stated that the Bermuda Hogges have reached a verbal agreement to become a feeder club for County.
But Hudson, who previously worked as a coach in America, has stressed that no such agreement is in place.
"I know Paul Scope (the franchise’s co-owner). He’s a friend of mine and we have talked about things," he said.
"We might look at a few of their players but there is no official partnership at the moment."
Good news for County came yesterday with Rose given the honour of being named the Non-League Young Player of the Year.
Rose, a former Manchester United youth captain, has cemented a spot in the England C squad this term as his reputation continues to grow.
The Exiles also yesterday released the first details of their pre-season campaign, the dates are:
July 6, Chepstow Town - Away
July 9, TBC - Home
July 13, Merthyr Tydfil - Away
July 16, Stoke City - Home
July 20, Mangotsfield - Away
July 23 Cheltenham Town Home
July 30 TBC - Home
August 5 Neath - Away
August 6 Undy - Away
August 13 BSP League begins (fixtures released July 5)
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