GARY WARREN said leading Newport County out at Wembley was the highlight of his career, despite their 2-0 defeat against York City in the FA Trophy Final.

Two goals in the space of seven second half minutes by Matty Blair and Lanre Oyebanjo killed off the Olveston-based centre back’s dreams of lifting the trophy.

However, a proud Warren said: “Leading the boys out and being captain in front of 12,000 Newport fans was the highlight of my career so far and I hope to do it again. It was a privilege and an honour.

“I honestly thought it was going to be our day.

“It’s disappointing for us. We worked hard to get to Wembley and on the big stage it didn’t quite work out for us.

“We started great but the first goal was important. We needed to get it and punish them when we were on top and maybe things would’ve worked out better for us.”

Warren, whose brother Tom plays for Yate, joined County from Team Bath in 2009 and was immediately handed the captain’s armband as they won the Conference South title in the 2009/10 season.

His performances in the Blue Square Premier last season attracted interest from League Two side Cheltenham, who had a £10,000 bid rejected last summer, and the former Mangotsfield man admitted after the final that his future remains unclear with his contract coming to an end.

“It’s still up in the air at the moment,” said Warren.

“I need to sit down with the gaffer (manager Justin Edinburgh) and the chairman (Chris Blight) and see what comes of it really.

“We’ve had a brief chat but nothing formal. This week is the time to assess it and I have an open mind.”