TARGET GOAL KING, TERRY

TERRY BUTCHER’S first job at Newport County is to find a striker, writes Matt Lloyd.

That’s according to predecessor Jimmy Dack, who blamed a lack of goals for blunting their promotion bid.

Only two of the top 20 sides in League Two scored fewer than County’s tally of 51 goals as they ended the campaign in ninth place, six points off the play-offs.

And with Chris Zebroski, Christian Jolly and Rene Howe no longer at Rodney Parade, Butcher must find some firepower.

Dack, who helped the Exiles to promotion two years ago as assistant manager, then took over when Justin Edinburgh left for Gillingham in February, said:“We probably lacked a goalscorer, someone to go alongside Aaron O’Connor and get some goals.

“We just didn’t score enough and that was reflected by our goal difference (-3).”

Ex-England skipper Butcher has the summer to fire up the Dragons.

“He’s probably just what the club needs,” said Dack, who turned down the chance to manage the club permanently to look for a job closer to his south London home.

“Terry will have his own ideas but this group is not a million miles away from promotion. They will be closer to the top of League Two next year.”

Butcher will have to do it on a reduced budget, with chairman Les Scadding confirming there will be less cash to spend.

Midfielder Max Porter, 27, is already attracting attention.

The former England C captain is out of contract at Rodney Parade.