NEWPORT Gwent Dragons must have a team to match the new Rodney Parade stadium, says former benefactor Tony Brown.

His company Bisley Office Furniture have taken over as headline sponsors of the Dragons and the new stand currently being built will be called the Bisley Stand.

Brown himself is playing a major role in the financing of the new £4m, 2,700-seat stand plus hospitality suite and boxes.

While saying that for health and family reasons he will not be able to have the same input into playing staff as he once did when he brought world stars like Gary Teichman and Shane Howarth to Newport, he still believes the new facilities and a team to match it go hand in hand.

“I am delighted to be of assistance where I can be, the team is still very dear to my heart,” he said “Though I am not able to get there as often as I would like and my input will be limited because of age and family sickness, I am sure people will buy into it as they have done in the past.

“The facilities are going to be top rate and I’m fully aware that the ground can have the best facilities in the world, but you have got to have a good team to put there as well, the two go hand in hand.

“The stadium has got to support the ability of the players and vice-versa. But it was very encouraging at the end of the season to see the victories against the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues. That was very positive and I hope the team can carry it on into the new season.”

Brown says it is vital the business community support the new project because if that makes a profit the money can be filtered through to buying major new players - something coach Darren Edwards is well aware of as he steps up his attempts to make two significant signings now that he is back from holiday.

“The new facility is for business meetings, weddings and the like with with a nice outlook. I hope it’s going to be very busy seven days a week not just on one (match) day,” said Brown.

“This is the right way to go about it, we want the supporters at the matches and the facilities to sell for the other six days of the week.

“Martyn Hazell (Dragons chairman) also deserves great credit for heading the whole operation up.

“But I have to say you have got to utilise the facilities in order to maximise the playing strength on the field.”

He is pleased the Dragons have got six players in the Wales World Cup training squad, though he is aware that if a number make the final cut for New Zealand they will be missing from the side for the first two months of the new season.

“I’m not sure about that, but it is nice to have six there. Full marks to the coaching staff,” he said.