NEWPORT Gwent Dragons chief executive Stuart Davies has been impressed with how Kingsley Jones has taken to life as the head honcho at Rodney Parade, writes Chris Kirwan.

The former Wales flanker has taken over in the hotseat from director of rugby Lyn Jones, retaining his head coach title and overseeing a management team that features elite performance director Huw Bevan, backs coach Shaun Connor and new forwards coach Ceri Jones.

Kingsley Jones has been involved at Rodney Parade since joining as part-time coach in 2013 and was promoted to the top job last month, charged with improving on a nightmare Guinness Pro12 campaign in which the 10th-placed Dragons won just four games.

"Taking the decision when we did has helped Kingsley and me in preparing for the new season," said Davies.

"That allowed us to appoint Ceri – I am excited about that, especially after hearing good things from (Premiership winners) Ebbw Vale – and Kingsley has had time to give thought to how his team might be made up.

"Seeing how he has transformed to being number one with the additional responsibility that it brings has been impressive. Under Lyn he was given a certain amount of that (responsibility) but now he has got the reins and has transformed quickly into the comfortable and capable number one.

"Kingsley brings tremendous energy on top of a great rugby mind and we are all well aware that we need to be a lot better this season."

The Dragons have signed six players for 2016/17 – centre/wing Pat Howard, centre Sam Beard, fly-half/full-back Nick Macleod, props Craig Mitchell and Sam Hobbs and hooker Darran Harris – but that is likely to be the end of their recruitment with work instead turning towards the next transfer cycle both in terms of signings and retention.

With the rugby fixture schedule increased by the return of the LV= Cup, extensive work has been done on the Rodney Parade surface this summer with Newport County starting their League Two season on Saturday, August 6.

The possibility of surrounding the perimeter of the pitch with a 4G surface has been discussed but not yet authorised and is dependent on finances.

The LV= Cup will be played in Newport while the destination for British and Irish Cup games involving the Dragons Premiership Select XV is yet to be confirmed.

Games were played at Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale and the region's training base in Ystrad Mynach last season with the latter being a potential option for all three this time.