NEWPORT Gwent Drag-ons chairman Martyn Hazell today issues an upbeat message about the future of the region and insists the loss of people in key positions will have no effect on their long term ambitions.

In an exclusive interview with the Argus, Hazell pledges the Dragons:

WILL be ambitious on the field.

WILL enlarge the squad by bringing in new players.

WILL secure a firm financial footing.

WILL announce a new coach soon.

WILL appoint a businessman as new chief executive.

WILL meet the Welsh Rugby Union to give them assurances about their future.

Andy Marinos became the latest figure to depart, resigning as chief executive on Friday, after the decision not to renew coach Chris Anderson's contract.

Tony Brown is also finishing as benefactor and director and Percy Montgom-ery is expected to be next out of the door though there is now some confusion whether his destiny is South Africa or France.

The loss of Marinos has removed the last remaining obstacle to Paul Turner being named as new coach once his commitments with Harlequins are over and the Dragons season ends. And it means well qualified Gwent people will run the region from top to bottom next season which can only be positive.

"We are on course with what we are trying to achieve," said Hazell. "We've got a good squad which we will be enlarging, we'll have a new coach and we will put the finances in order so that we'll be a very strong and sound region.

"The aim is to try to win the Celtic League title next season and to reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, and to that extent we will be enlarging the squad (priorities are a prop and a wing).

"And the chief executive will be replaced by someone with business and promotional acumen. "We are definitely not in turmoil, in fact everything is now starting to come together. People going will make no difference, nobody is irreplaceable. What we need now is people to support the team, though our average crowd of 6,000 is more than others. We've got a Celtic Cup quarter-final on Friday (against Llanelli Scarlets at Rodney Parade).

"The new coach will be announced shortly, and we've got a strong youth policy with a lot of youngsters coming through. The academy is funded by the WRU and we will meet them later in the week to allay any fears they've got.

"But there aren't any fears or problems, so things are actually looking brighter, not darker."

The four regions will receive extra funding from the WRU next season while they also stand to make around £200,000 each from taking part in England's Powergen Cup, a move which looks set to go ahead, though only two non-Welsh players will be allowed per team in future.

That will also favour the Dragons as they supply half the Wales under-18 squad.