THE disciplinary hearing into Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Paul Turner’s conduct should be completed within a fortnight.

Turner was suspended after a board meeting on Thursday afternoon and the decision was announced to a shocked squad on Friday morning before they left for Sale, who they were playing in the LV Cup that evening.

It is understood there were two letters of complaint about Turner in front of the board.

One was from the Welsh Rugby Union after he accused the team management of causing Dan Lydiate to be injured at a training session, forcing him to miss the Connacht game last month.

The other was from a newspaper group’s hierarchy after one of their reporters was threatened at a Press conference after the Glasgow game eight days ago.

That match ended in defeat and meant the Dragons had lost all six Heineken Cup pool matches for the first time, though on the credit side Turner has had to work with limited resources and has been credited with developing a lot of promising local talent like Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Jason Tovey.

The inquiry will be conducted by Mike Jenkins, the Dragons chief executive and a solicitor with considerable experience at Newport firms Harding Evans and Dolmans.

A decision on Turner’s future with the Dragons is expected by the time of the next Margners League game against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade on February 12.

Rugby manager Robert Beale said after Friday night’s win at Sale: “It’s been an extremely difficult day addressing the players and coaches and making them aware that Paul had been suspended pending an inquiry.

“It was a difficult start to our preparations but the guys pulled together. We knew if we won we could go to a semi-final and we agreed last week that Danny Wilson and Shaun Connor would prepare the side for the tie.

“Paul rang me and made sure we wished the players all the best on his behalf.

“Often adversity brings out the best in individuals and there was a determination from the players and the coaches to put in a good performance after what has been a difficult season.

“Hopefully this will be a turning point, the players are delighted and the dressing room is very happy. They hope to build on that against the Scarlets.”

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones, like Turner a Gwent Valleys man, has some sympathy for his colleague.

“There’s a lot of pressure in this job and everybody loses their cool at some stage of their career, things can get to coaches and being at the top end of sport is tough,” he said.

“Paul is a friend and a fellow coach. It’s sad and I hope it resolves itself for everyone’s sake.”