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

Gethin Jenkins is set to step down as Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive after six years in the post.

His time at Rodney Parade has been during a tumultuous period, following the switch to regional rugby in Wales.

Jenkins has helped advance plans to redevelop the run-down ground and tired facilities, while overseeing a rise in playing fortunes on the pitch.

"We've built a stable foundation, had a successful season and made progress this year," Jenkins said.

"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.

"It's been a period of great change but we've come in and we've established some structures, we've got the organisation, by and large, to operate on a break-even basis.

"We've made progress developing youngsters, developing coaches and built strong foundations from which I'm sure the Dragons can progress."

This season has been a break-through for the Dragons as they finished comfortably above Scarlets in the Magners League table, breaking their perennial 'last-man' tag and securing Heineken Cup qualification in the process.

606: DEBATE You wouldn't think it would cost 40 million to expand your stadium by 5 thousand john

Also advanced are plans for the redevelopment of Dragons' Rodney Parade home, with final plans set to be revealed soon.

Original proposals included residential, retail, student and hotel developments to supplement a new £40m, 15,000-seater stadium.

While theses plans are likely to be scaled back due to the world economic downturn, Jenkins confirmed that he was only leaving with the Dragons poised to move forward.

"There's always things when you look back you'd have done slightly differently, but by-and-large it's been a fantastic six years," said Jenkins, who started as Dragons commercial director and then later took over as chief executive.

"Myself and the staff here and all the players and coaches, I think we've made genuine progress and we've brought stability to an organisation that's seen a lot of turmoil.

"I think there's a strong, positive future for it, hopefully with the redevelopment imminent.

"The redevelopment we're looking at it, we're going through the legal implications and sorting out the issues surrounding the planning permission.

"We hope to announce some news on the redevelopment of the stand and the re-phasing of the programme fairly soon."

While Jenkins will take up a new job - yet to be announced - away from rugby, he says his heart will still be with 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."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version