Newport County have confirmed that goal machine Adam Birchall is a target, and the club have also agreed a new contract with star defender Gary Warren.

The Exiles, who open their pre-season friendly programme at Chepstow tonight (kick-off 6.30pm), have seen two bids for Birchall rejected but have not given up the chase for his services.

Manager Anthony Hudson is determined to land another striker and it is understood that Birchall, who has had a transfer request turned down by the Conference South outfit, is keen on a return to the Principality, having made a number of starts as a Wales under-21 international.

The former Arsenal and Barnet man was the top scorer in English football last term with an incredible 45 goals in 49 games and the Exiles see him as their top priority.

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter has slammed County after putting a £250,000 price on Birchall’s head.

The Whites chairman said: "Newport County's bid was an insult not just to the club but to Adam too. I understand Adam's ambition and it's no secret – but he is under contract for two more seasons.

“We don't believe putting him on the transfer list is the right thing to do."

County are adamant they’ve not short charged their former rivals.

“We’ve had two bids for him rejected, the second a written offer,” director of football Tim Harris confirmed.

“We note the comments from Dover’s chairman and don’t believe the bid we made to be derisory.

“We feel we’ve offered a fair amount and will have to wait and see what happens at this point.”

The player himself is desperate for a return to the Football League and has admitted he wants to be playing full-time football.

“I want to be a pro,” he said. “I want to go back and give it another go. There are other players who have done it, the likes of Jermaine Beckford and Steve Morison, and those guys give non-league players like myself hope.

“The price is another thing. Realistically, it’s not going to be that much, but I’ve got a gentleman’s agreement that no matter how much it is, we’ll talk about it. I get on with the chairman and the gaffer and they wouldn’t stand in my way.

“It’s almost a cliche, but if it doesn’t happen now, it will never happen. I’m on the phone to my agent every day.

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m turning my back on Dover, though, because I love them with all my heart. I’ve enjoyed playing for them and if I continue there, that’s great.”

While County face uncertainty over their Birchall overtures, they have no such worries with Warren.

The trainee teacher had been considering his options this summer with a top teaching job in Bristol on the table, but has opted to move into full-time football, specifically with Newport.

“We are absolutely thrilled, this is a fantastic outcome for what has been an uncertain situation for a number of weeks,” said Hudson.

“Gary had to decide if going full-time would be right for him and from our perspective, we are thrilled to have him in place for the coming season.”

Harris reiterated that stance and rejected comparisons between County’s pursuit of Birchall and Cheltenham Town’s interest in Warren.

“Gary signing a full-time deal is a fantastic outcome for this football club, it was awkward last season at times working around his schedule and it’s massive for Anthony to have a top class defender signed on full-time,” he said.

“Obviously we dismissed Cheltenham’s offer for Gary as ‘derisory’ but there are two things to that.

“Firstly, it was a very low bid (believed to be £10,000). Secondly, it was them who went public with the bid. Obviously in this instance, Dover have gone through the press, not the other way around.”