NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner has blasted back at David Moffett, the former Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive, who has claimed the four regional coaches, Turner obviously among them, are not good enough to take over the Wales job.

Scott Johnson has now been handed the role on a temporary basis for the remaining three matches of the Six Nations Championship, starting with Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday, after the decision of Mike Ruddock to stand down.

Johnson will declare after the Six Nations whether he is returning to his native Australia for family reasons or whether he will stay on, as the players want, beyond that.

But Turner now says he will not be applying for the post should it become vacant again at the end of the Six Nations Championship. And he is angry with Moffett's claims.

"Don't take my name in vain Mr Moffett, you don't know me and you don't know how I coach, we've never even met one another," a furious Turner said, adding with some understatement, "I'm not happy at all about any of this.

"I'm not particularly interested in the Wales job either and I certainly won't be applying for it, they know who they want.

"I work for the Welsh Rugby Union anyway with one of the organisations who are funded by them."

Turner also says something has to be done about a situation which now leaves the Dragons facing more major cashflow problems because they are without a game for six weeks.

They were due to face Llanelli Scarlets in the Celtic League at Stradey Park in 12 days time, but the match is off as the Scarlets are in the Powergen Cup semi-finals.

"England and Ireland have both got an A league and the situation must be addressed here. We need people coming through the gate and the players need to play," said Turner. "It could be that all our players will have to play for Premier Division clubs, we need to work together to try to resolve this."