NEWPORT Gwent Dragons chief executive Andy Marinos says the changes to the Celtic League structure next season will make it more competitive and raise the competition's profile.

Marinos warmly welcomed the news that from next season the league would be structured to ensure none of its 22-weekend season would clash with the autumn internationals or Six Nations Tests.

"It will raise the competition's profile and give it a much more competitive edge and put an end to squabbles about the availability of players for important league games," he said.

Only last week Dragons coach Chris Anderson expressed his unhappiness most of their Welsh squad members were not made available for the Celtic League clash with Ulster, who included their Irish stars.

"It means that won't happen and will enable us to manage our players better and to use a more condensed professional squad and control them in a way beneficial to Wales, the region and the players themselves," added Marinos.

"It will make the Celtic League more of a spectacle for spectators and make it more attractive as a commercial proposition to business partners and would-be sponsors. We welcome the changes and look forward to the Celtic League going from strength to strength."

Such is the confidence of Wales, Ireland and Scotland in the league that all three nations have agreed to sign a new three-year Celtic Accord, confirming their support for the competition until at least May 2008.

The nations also confirmed they would continue to use the finishing positions of their teams for future Heineken Cup qualification.

The changes and support for the league means there will be no future Celtic Cup play-offs after this season's final on May 14.

At their meeting in Dublin this week the three Unions also agreed measures to address player welfare and control the number of fixtures they play.

Next season's Celtic League will kick-off on the weekend of September 3 and will end on the last weekend of May 2006. Fixtures and dates will be released early next month.

Dragons player Kevin Morgan backs the new moves. "It will make the Celtic League a lot more stable and the team that comes out on top can really say they are the best in the league," he said.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes the Celtic League is a good competition regardless of any changes. "It won't make any difference to its prestige, but now I see it going from strength to strength," he said.

"When senior players are committed to international competition it also gives younger players a chance - look at Ryan Jones who has come through the academy system."