NEWPORT County assistant manager Jimmy Dack admits the club face a race against time to strengthen their squad ahead of the close of the transfer window.

The Exiles have until February 2 to target any last minute additions with County keen to boost their ranks following the departures of strikers Christian Jolley and Danny Crow.

Crow scored twice for Conference North outfit Lowestoft on Saturday while Jolley has been linked with a range of Conference clubs with Eastleigh and Dover both thought to be keen on the striker who scored at Wembley for the Exiles in the Conference play-off final against Wrexham. The Dragons also thought to be keen on the former AFC Wimbledon man.

Newport would still like to find a new club for goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley in what should be a busy week at Rodney Parade with the club hopeful they will be able to confirm the news that manager Justin Edinburgh is extending his contract.

It is also understood that the club are hoping to announce additions at boardroom level, but while the Argus has been told the news by several sources, it hasn’t yet been confirmed by the club who would want to call a press conference and promote any such appointment.

The Exiles had a staff meeting last week in which Edinburgh was briefed on plans for next season and now the Exiles management are hopeful of making additions to the playing squad with time ticking away.

“We’d like to see some movement, it’s an avenue we are trying to look at and we are trying to get some players in,” Dack told the Argus.

“But it’s not always easy, we don’t have the money other clubs have but we are trying to get one or two in and we will just keep knocking on the door and see where we go.

“We are trying to (do something) but sometimes your hands are a little bit tied. That’s all I can say about that.”

Dack backed County to respond well from back-to-back away defeats at Cambridge and Northampton but admits the speculation linking boss Justin Edinburgh with Gillingham might have been a distraction.

“It’s been a little bit unsettling at times, but we are employed by the club and it is business as usual and we are just trying to get going.

“I know the boys laugh and joke about it, but we don’t know what impact it has on them, but we will keep doing the right things and try and get three points on Saturday and if we do we will be up and running again.

“We put pressure on ourselves, we want to be in the play-offs and we will keep battling.”