Gethin Jenkins says he will continue to follow the Dragons after leaving

Gethin Jenkins is to become Cardiff City football club's day-to-day chief after stepping down as Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive.

Jenkins, who was at Rodney Parade for six years, helped redevelopment plans at the Welsh rugby union region while overseeing a rise in playing fortunes.

He will become chief executive at Cardiff City as chairman Peter Ridsdale quits at the end of May.

This follows Malaysian Datuk Chan Tien Ghee investing heavily in Cardiff.

TG - as he is known to the fans - has been central to staving off a winding-up order for Cardiff, with the club being given more time to pay its £1.9m debt to HM Revenue and Customs.

Cardiff's lawyers told a High Court judge an Asian investor had already put £500,000 into the Bluebirds and had indicated he would give it £6m.

The investment would give him a 49% shareholding in the club.

Chairman Ridsdale had always claimed he would end his five-year association with the club when its financial future was secure - and if Cardiff are promoted to the Premier League, this would generate another £90m.

Jenkins will be in day-to-day control of the club and reporting to the chairman - but Peter Ridsdale's successor as chairman is yet to be decided.

Meanwhile Jenkins oversaw tumultuous times at Newport Gwent Dragons following the controversial introduction of regional rugby.

"I'm taking up a new opportunity elsewhere... I thought it was the right time to move on and let someone take the Dragons forward." Jenkins said earlier on Wednesday before news of his Cardiff City job emerged - and hours before the football club's vital play-off clash against Leicester City on Wednesday night.

Later in the day, he added: "As someone who grew up watching the Bluebirds from the Bob Bank, I am delighted to be joining Cardiff City.

"There are fantastic opportunities for this club over the next few years and I am looking forward to working with the directors, players and staff to build on what has already been established both from a business and sport perspective.

"Having a background in both local and international sports administration I hope to bring my experience to the club at this exciting time in its history."

However, despite moving on, Jenkins said he would still be following the Dragons.

"They'll be the team I'll still be watching or looking for their results," he said. "I'm moving on to new opportunities but will still have one eye on the Dragons going forward," he said.

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