THE man plotting to ensure relegation-threatened Cwmbran Town stretch their losing streak to an eighth game tonight, has revealed he' s desperate for the Crows to retain their Welsh Premier League status.

They travel west to Richmond Park to face European-seeking Carmarthen Town, whose manager Mark Jones wants the inaugural 1992-93 WPL champions to stay up.

"I'd really love it if they could go on a run to avoid the drop," said Jones, whose team can go fourth with victory tonight - just days after clinching a Welsh Cup semi final place.

"Of course that run would have to start after tonight's match, but I'm desperate for them to stay up.

"I've always enjoyed games against the Crows and whenever I'm at Cwmbran Stadium, I always think of their late manager Tony Willcox.

"He was a good friend of mine and we still all miss him very much. It would be great if they could pull clear of the relegation zone and after tonight, I'll be rooting for them."

Cwmbran uncomfortably sit just six points and one place off the one-strong drop-zone and their home match against bottom-placed Caernarfon Town on March 17, is being deemed to be a relegation decider should the Crows lose again tonight.

However, the well appointed Richmond Park, now even more resplendent with a new 1,000-seater stand, has been an extremely happy hunting ground for the Crows recently.

They are unbeaten in league games at the venue in their last five visits - gaining three wins and two draws.

Goalkeeper Gareth Wesson is unavailable, so manager Sean Wharton has drafted in Keiron Blackburn, also registered with Newport and who will make his WPL debut after previous Loosemores League Cup appearances.

Wharton, though, is able to call on left back Gareth Wysome, whose one-game suspension doesn't kick in until tomorrow, while Gareth Mouncher is fit again after being sidelined with an ankle strain.