THE Newport Gwent Dragons board have a difficult decision to make as they consider a replacement for Chris Anderson, who is leaving after only one season in charge.

They can either put the future in the hands of current pair Leigh Jones and Dai Rees or they can go for an outsider like Paul Turner.

Much will depend on how they see the future and how they wish to proceed, or are able to, without their main benefactor Tony Brown, whose backing for Newport initially and now the Dragons will be sorely missed.

The board remain determined the Dragons will suceed and they know they have a highly capable squad.

Now they have a choice to make. If it is to appoint from within Jones and Rees will be the pair at the helm next season, Jones in charge of the forwards and Rees the backs.

Jones had a spell in charge of Newport three years ago which wasn't particularly successful, particularly at the outset when the team lost their first eight games, though they recovered and ended up with a 50% record.

But he had to work with a few world stars and found it difficult to handle them coming from Ebbw Vale where he was more used to developing young players and moulding them into a team.

Jones, under contract with the Dragons for another year, is also heavily favoured by the Welsh Rugby Union technical chiefs who regard him as one of the brightest coaches in the country.

Rees was in charge of Cross Keys for 10 years where he did a fine job before taking over with Newport. He is also skills coach of the Dragons and Wales under-19s coach.

He is keen on development, encourages an adventurous approach and is one of the best emerging coaches in Wales.

But if the Dragons board decide to go outside Turner is their likely choice especially as he is believed to be unhappy at the Harlequins, one off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership, where he is backs coach.

He is a former Newport and Newbridge captain and held the points scoring records at both clubs. The ex-outside half also won three caps for Wales in 1989 when he was with Newbridge.

He went into coaching when he left Wales and has had spells with top clubs Sale, Gloucester, Saracens and now Harlequins.

But he would accept a new role away from there and despite heavy domestic commitments in the London area would still welcome a move back to his native Gwent in charge of the Dragons.

If it is to be Turner or someone else from outside it would be the sixth different coach in charge of the main team playing out of Rodney Parade in as many years since the game went professional.

Allan Lewis was the first, followed in rapid succession by Ian McIntosh, Leigh Jones, Mike Ruddock and Anderson.