DAVID Rees, one of the men beaten to the Wales head coach's job by people's choice Gareth Jenkins, today pleaded with the Welsh public and media to give the Llanelli director of rugby time to make Wales a force again.

The Newport coach, who becomes a full time Dragons assistant coach next season, said he only applied for the Wales post for 'development' reasons and holds no hopes of a post under Jenkins.

And giving the new man his backing, he said: "It's the appointment the whole of Welsh rugby was expecting. Once Gareth threw his hat into the ring he was the people's and media's choice and he'll relish the challenge.

"It's the highest profile job in Wales and probably second only to the England soccer manager's job in Britain in terms of pressure.

"Gareth's got the experience to cope because he's been in the limelight way before professional rugby came along and also coached the Welsh side back in the 1990s (under Alan Davies).

"I just hope the media and Welsh public afford Gareth the time to rebuild the environment and the team we need after the last three months of upheaval.

"I'm sure he'll stamp his authority and own style on the game and if he transfers what we've seen at Llanelli over the years we'll not be a million miles away from what the Welsh public want to see and the players want to play - a high continuity, expansive game."

Rees added: "Gareth has gone on record as saying he would like to take some of his right hand men from Llanelli and you can understand that.

"We were all told as candidates by the Welsh Rugby Union we would be allowed to appoint our own team and that's something not perhaps afforded to past national coaches.

"I went for the job as a personal development issue, but I'm really pleased to be taking over as assistant coach at the Dragons and, hopefully, still being with the Wales Under-21s and Sevens squads."

Regarding Wales' future under Jenkins, he said: "I think the Grand Slam last season was a blip, albeit an upward blip, in terms of success.

"We are a very small country and don't possess a huge player base and though we proved we have quality in winning the Slam, I think one of Gareth's priorities will be expanding that player base by hopefully exposing some of the younger players on tours like that to Argentina so that when we get to the World Cup, if we have injuries, we won't be bare of competitive international players."

Byron Hayward, the former Ebbw Vale coach now coach of Wales Under-21s, played under Jenkins for two years at Llanelli.

He said: "It's the best appointment. Gareth has a proven track record.

"When I was at Llanelli it had an aura about the place, that Gareth created. He has that important quality of making players feel they are part of something special.

"He also has very, very high standards, is a very disciplined and straight man and is a good person and I enjoyed my time at Llanelli and probably played my best rugby there.

"I think the way Wales have played over the past few years under Steve Hansen and Mike Ruddock will suit Gareth. He likes to play rugby with ball in hand and with continuity and will probably carry on in the same vein."

Former Wales and British Lions prop Graham Price said: "He was the best candidate and will take the game forward.

"One of the weaknesses of the game in Wales in recent years is that we have played a very loose, non-contact game at times.

"Once we have won the ball we need to make sure we don't get into situations where we lose it again.

"Gareth will strengthen the forwards so that we can play a more all-round game. There are times when we need to tighten up and play a more tactical game.

"Gareth is also probably a bit more hard-nosed than Mike Ruddock. I don't think he will stand for any nonsense.

"He's going to have to set out his game plan and develop it through the Autumn internationals and into the World Cup."

Former successful Wales coach and British Lions centre John Dawes said: "He was the right man after the shambles of the past few months which has left Welsh rugby a bit of a laughing stock.

"He has been messed about a lot in the past and will meet with public approval. He's been at Llanelli for thirty years, he's extremely popular and he knows the game. He deserves it and we'll all unite behind him."

Another former Wales international and British Lion, wing JJ Williams, said: "There was no alternative. It would have been madness had Gareth not got the job.

"We can now put the Ruddock problem behind us and look forward to the tour of Argentina and the 2007 World Cup.