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Newport County manager Graham Coughlan is keen for the takeover of the club to speed up so he can push ahead with new deals for players already on the books.

Ex-Swansea City chair Huw Jenkins was backed to take control of the League Two club by supporters in September.

However, the deal is still awaiting Football League approval.

"I would like the process quickened up a little bit because there are players in that changing room who I need to [tie down]." said Coughlan.

"I have touched base with them, I have spoken to them, I have spoken about plans, I have spoken about what I would like to do in the coming weeks. That was back in October, that has run into November and has now run into December.

"I am a little bit behind in what I would like to do. I cannot have the situation and I don't think it was just on my watch but in previous years too.

"It's been a longstanding issue at the football club, where this club loses its better players at the end of the season.

"Players use the club and the game time on the pitch as a platform and a springboard to bigger and better or to earn more money. I would like to get on top of that and if I could put a halt to it."

Last summer Coughlan's squad building plans were ruined as Cameron Norman, captain Mickey Demetriou, Aaron Lewis and Priestley Farquharson refused new deals and moved away.

Coughlan said: "We have some really good lads and I don't want to be in a situation where I was last summer when I am planning, recruiting and organising and all of a sudden I get four phone calls and I lose four players and I have to rip all my plans up.

"I would like things to move along a little bit quicker and we can get going. But we are active in our recruitment policy, we are active in trying to nail down the players we would like to hold onto going forward.

"They are positive signs and fingers crossed over the next couple of weeks we can sit down with a couple of these lads and we can get them tied down and we can make one or two additions in January, but that is all it will be one or two."

Meanwhile, Coughlan is comfortable with reports Charlton and Wycombe Wanderers are eyeing moves for Newport's in-form defender Shane McLoughlin, who has scored five goals this season. Newport snapped up the Bronx-born Irish youth international last summer from Salford.

"That famous word 'speculation'," said Coughlan.

"I would be delighted if people are looking at our players because it would show they are being coached well, they are playing well and they are good players.

"If we could turn speculation into realism that would be a brilliant achievement for everybody. I've got no issues, clubs will always look at good players.

"We do have a decent name in the game for coaching and developing, me and Joe Dunne have a long history of developing and moving players on.

"It's no surprise, hopefully it's more than speculation and they are looking at one or two more because our performance levels this season have been really good, and that will attract attention."

On Saturday Newport travel to play Tranmere ahead of an FA Cup second round replay at Barnet, on Tuesday night.