By Sean Davies BBC Sport

Whatever happens in the new season, there is no doubt that a new era has dawned at the Scarlets.

SCARLETS PREDICTIONS Celtic League: 4th Powergen Cup: Semi-final Heineken Cup: Group stage Full season preview

Gareth Jenkins' move up to the Wales job ended his 37-year stay at Stradey Park as player and coach.

New director of rugby Phil Davies is hardly an unfamiliar face, but he will look to mix innovation with continuity in a bid to freshen the club's ambitions that appear to have gone somewhat stale in recent seasons.

The former Leeds boss seems undaunted and has vowed to make the Scarlets one of the top eight sides is Europe by 2008.

With backs coach Nigel Davies having joined Jenkins in the Wales camp, Phil Davies will have two rookie assistants alongside him in Paul Moriarty and Robert Jones.

Key player: Stephen Jones

But the ex-Swansea and Wales men have the pedigree and experience that demand respect and they will relish the challenge ahead.

The other major addition to the Scarlets roster over the summer has been the return of Wales and Lions outside-half Stephen Jones from his Clermont Auvergne sojourn.

His partnerships with scrum-half Dwayne Peel and inside centre Regan King are likely to hold the key to unlocking any defence and will be central to Davies' ambitions.

TRANSFER STORIES Jones named skills coach Scarlet Evans joins Cardiff Scarlets secure Bater & Thomas Hercus switches to Dragons Scarlet Quinnell joins Worcester Madden makes bitter exit Scarlets secure Maori prop Manu Ponty duo get regional deals Quinnell spurns Scarlets job Phil Davies takes Scarlets reins Jenkins poaches sidekick Davies Wales unveil Jenkins as coach Wyatt agrees move to Munster King signs new Scarlets contract Scarlets sign six youngsters MacLeod to join Scarlets Jones secures return to Scarlets

Out wide, the summer losses of Lee Byrne and Tal Selley to the Ospreys are a blow, but highly promising youngsters like Gavin Evans, Jon Davies and Martyn Thomas are there to fill in.

Weaknesses in recent years have been exposed at outside-half and in the front five.

Jones' return solves the first of those problems, while there are high hopes that Maori prop Deacon Manu and Scotland lock Scott MacLeod can stiffen the spine.

That will certainly be tested in the Heineken Cup, where the Scarlets face Toulouse for the third successive year.

One to watch: Ken Owens

The French giants look likely to prove too strong again, while the presence of Ulster and London Irish in the pool seem to make a best runners-up spot unlikely.

The Llanelli team will fancy their chances of advancing from an Anglo-Welsh group containing Harlequins, Newcastle and Sale, especially if the Sharks show the same disdain for the tournament that they did last year.

But a lack of strength in depth could see them slip behind the Ospreys and the leading Irish sides in the race for the Magners League crown.

In: Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Scott MacLeod (Borders), Ian Jones (development contract), Rhys Priestland (development contract), Rob McCusker (development contract), Lou Reed (development contract), Liam Davies (development contract), Lee Williams (development contract), Phil Davies (director of rugby), Morgan Stoddart (Pontypridd), Deacon Manu (Waikato and Chiefs), Nathan Thomas (Leeds), James Bater (Ospreys), Robert Jones (skills coach)

Out: Chris Wyatt (Munster), Gareth Jenkins (Wales coach), Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Tal Selley (Ospreys), Nigel Davies (Wales attack coach), Scott Quinnell (rejected coaching job), Martyn Madden (unattached), Gavin Quinnell (Worcester), Mike Hercus (Dragons), Craig Evans (Cardiff RFC), Darren Allinson (Blues)