I'M in this for the long haul, says Paul Turner, the latest coach to take over at Rodney Parade in charge of Newport Gwent Dragons.

In successive seasons at Rodney Parade, whether with Newport or the Dragons, Allan Lewis, Ian McIntosh, Leigh Jones, Mike Ruddock, Declan Kidney and Chris Anderson have all been head coach, Kidney for just three weeks because he wanted the vacant Leinster job when it became available after moving to Gwent.

Turner is the seventh man at the helm in the past six years in a period of turmoil, though most coaches had special reasons for leaving, like Ruddock to take the Wales job, but it has led to calls for greater stability in the troubled region.

The former Newbridge and Newport captain and record points holder has just the right pedigree to provide that steady influence, and he announced on his first day in the hot seat that he intends making it long term.

"The WRU have said they have no qualms with my appointment, and coaching stability is needed here. I'm planning just that, the timing is right and let's hope it's for six years not two or three," said Turner after signing a two-year deal which could easily be extended.

Turner also plans to try to unite the region behind the team with his background, though he accepts he won't please all the people all the time.

"Newport is a proud club, and as a kid you wanted to play for your local team, which I did, but I also always wanted to play for Newport," he said.

"It's the place you always used to have to come to to see the big crowds and also get a cap in those days, though I'm the only back to get capped from Newbridge, and that will always be the case.

"There's a lot of proud Newport people here, and we've got to change the mindset, but as a kid you used to be given time off to see Gwent play a touring side.

"The key to all this is the youngsters coming into the game.

"I was fortunate to captain Gwent against the Australians, that's what we want to give the Gwent youngsters of this era - they need to see Newport Gwent Dragons as their focal point.

"That will start to change the mindset of the Newport supporters who I have got a great affinity with. Times will change and people will get back to supporting Gwent.

"I feel it will all come together through the work we're going to be doing in the region. I've been thinking about it sat at home in leafy Hertfordshire and you wonder why people are arguing about that when they should be moving things on.

"They've got the same problems at Cardiff, it's how you embrace it that counts. I had people at Newbridge who didn't talk to me for two years when I came to Newport, so I'm not going to change everyone.

"Not everybody will like me, but I'm a Gwent Valleys boy so I understand all the problems."