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Newport County manager Graham Coughlan suggested some of his players are at risk of wasting their careers after Saturday's 1-0 loss at Grimsby Town.

The Exiles were only two points outside the League Two play-off places after last month's win at AFC Wimbledon.

But they have since slumped to four straight defeats to wipe hopes of extending their season.

"Football's a short career, you have to make the most of every moment," Coughlan said.

"This group of lads have come a long way. They have done brilliantly. But the season is not 38, 39 games, the season is 46 games so as professional footballers, they need to show a bit of personal pride, professional standards.

"One or two will look at back at this moment in their careers. I just hope one or two of them don't waste their careers because there's one or two who probably won't be with us next year.

"That's sad because I wanted to hold on to this group, but they leave with me no choice, no options, over the last four weeks.

"One or two of them have probably got three or four games left for this football club and good luck to them. God knows where they'll go after that."

Danny Rose scored the only goal for relegation-threatened Grimsby, who were unfortunate not to win by more as Newport struggled at Blundell Park.

County, who now play three successive home games starting with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday, have slipped to 10 points adrift of the top seven.

"At this moment in time we are so lucky we have got to 55 points because this group of lads, over the last four games, have shown we are probably not up for the battle, not up for the fight, not up to the standards that are needed," Coughlan added.

"Yes we are missing a lot of players, you can talk about that all day long, but there are enough lads on that pitch to do better than what they are doing.

"I think one or two need to take ownership and look themselves in the mirror. I think they owe the football club, they owe the fans."