NOW Newport Gwent Dragons can start to move ahead, now they can plan for the future with some confidence.

Far from the turmoil some have claimed exists within the Dragons camp after the loss of various people in key positions, the reality is there is no crisis at all.

A necessary process is taking place and once the decks have been completely cleared in a few weeks time they will be in a position from which they can proceed with a fair degree of boldness.

Obviously, the Dragons will miss Tony Brown after all the riches he has brought to Rodney Parade on and off the field.

But that era is now ending and the Dragons have to get on without him. Even though he will remain in the background - he effectively owns the ground - he will no longer be involved as benefactor or director.

He will leave the place debt free and while his departure is regrettable, no one else's is, for it means the Dragons will now have almost entirely Gwent people running the Gwent region.

Just as Wales brought in some foreign expertise then reverted to a Welsh coach again, so the Dragons enjoyed some heady days with foreign imports but now have to revert to home grown people running the show.

Paul Turner, soon to be named as new coach, Leigh Jones, Dai Rees and Jim McCreedy are all Gwent people, and so are the board, all of whom have a unique insight into what makes the area tick and what is necessary, which is more than can be said for some of those in charge this season.

I find some of current coach Chris Anderson's criticisms extremely distasteful. The words pot, kettle and black come readily to mind.

His position is defended by Andy Marinos, but that is no surprise considering the appointment was his recommendation in the first place. Unsurprisingly, both are about to leave.

They cite a fourth-placed finish in the Celtic League as though that was some achievement, conveniently ignoring that the Dragons were 26 points behind the champions when they had a chance to win the title in the final game last season, not to mention the fact that they had a far stronger squad this season.

The reality is the Dragons have vastly under-performed. A team so full of spirit and camaraderie last season was all but destroyed this time around, and destroyed from within, which beggars belief.

Anderson was clearly a square peg who didn't fit in and even now admits he knows little of some parts of the game, a staggering situation. How on earth could the Dragons have succeeded this season with a coach at the helm who had no experience of rugby union? They never stood a chance.

Tactics were wrong, preparation wasn't right and team selection was wide of the mark. Morale suffered badly and some appalling decisions were made.

Suffice to say that this season has been like a bad dream, and the Dragons will be better off without some of their so-called leading lights.

The appointment of Anderson was a mistake and Marinos was effectively sidelined with the decision by the board not to renew the coach's contract or to involve the chief executive in the appointment of the coach's successor.

But the Dragons can, and will, learn, because a long-term plan is in operation, financial stability can be achieved despite the loss of Brown, signings will be made, though not of an exceptional, world renowned nature, and the ship will be steered through stormy waters.

The appointment of Turner is a major step in the right direction for he has the right credentials, he has the experience in the Zurich Premiership and he is now ready to take on the number one job.

He is innovative, has all sorts of ideas and, most importantly, can work with his new colleagues at Rodney Parade, a number of planning meetings having taken place over several weeks.

I'm convinced you'll see a new Dragons from here on, and if some people in charge have criticised what they perceive as my negativity towards them, then how little do they know. Criticism has been dished out for all the right reasons because things have not been happening as they should.

But now it looks very much as though things are being put right. I'm convinced the Dragons can move on to challenge the best which they were prevented from doing this season.