THE FIVE-YEAR reign of Paul Turner at Rodney Parade is in doubt after the Newport Gwent Dragons head coach was suspended by the region yesterday.

The coach, who is under contract until May 2012, is at the centre of a disciplinary inquiry headed by new chief executive Mike Jenkins.

The Dragons have not made reference to any specific incident, nor will they be commenting further until the investigation is complete, but the heat has been on the 50-year-old in recent weeks.

First he incurred the wrath of the Welsh Rugby Union after telling the Argus that flanker Dan Lydiate had been made to take part in fitness tests with the national squad despite suffering from a neck injury. He claimed the tests had worsened his condition.

Before the Dragons suspended the head coach they issued a statement apologising for the outburst.

It read: “Paul Turner would like to apologise unequivocally both for the way in which this matter came into the public domain and his choice of words used in his interview with the Argus.

“His comments were made in the heat of the moment following a briefing from his medical team regarding Danny Lydiate and were the result of his frustration and concern over the welfare of a player who has had a difficult history with injury. Mr Turner accepts that these are issues which would have been best dealt with directly with the WRU and not through the media.”

The pressure intensified when Turner was involved in a heated dispute with a rugby reporter following Sunday’s Heineken Cup defeat to Glasgow.

After being pressed about his future, Turner asked the journalist to leave the press conference and then said: “Go on, get out before I hit you out.”

That brought the possibility of action by European Rugby Cup officials, who earlier this season hauled Saracens coach Brendan Venter before a disciplinary board after he questioned the refereeing in a defeat to Leinster.

The South African was fined 25,000 euros and then received another warning about his behaviour after a bizarre post-match interview.

Turner, who had spells coaching Gloucester, Harlequins, Sale and Bedford, has had his ups and downs with the Dragons since taking the job in the pre-season of 2005.

He is credited with helping bring through the likes of Jason Tovey, Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Ashley Smith but faced criticism for several of his overseas signings that have failed to deliver.

Turner was named as Magners League coach of the year for his efforts last season but results have taken a turn for the worse this term. The Dragons lost all six of their Heineken Cup pool matches – the first time they have suffered a whitewash.

They are ninth in the Magners League and are adrift of their Welsh rivals, meaning they are almost certain to be in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Europe’s second-tier competition, next season.

Coaches Danny Wilson and Shaun Connor took charge of last night’s LV Cup clash with Sale – a move that was planned before Turner’s suspension. The pair will be in the hotseat for next weekend’s clash with the Scarlets while Turner’s number two, Darren Edwards, is carrying out his role as head coach of Wales Under-20s.

The Dragons’ coaching team is highly rated and Turner adopted a role that was more akin to a director of rugby, overseeing the whole operation. If Turner does go, then giving Edwards, assisted by Wilson and Connor, more responsibility is one attractive option open to the Dragons board. Another big local name who might be available is Kingsley Jones, who finished at Sale last night.