 Jones won two Magners League titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup at Ospreys |
Former Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones has revealed he is "open to offers" as the Newport Gwent Dragons seek a permanent successor to Paul Turner. Turner left the Welsh region after six years in charge earlier this month and former Dragons attack coach Jones has been linked to the vacant position. Jones left his Rodney Parade role after just a few months in 2009 to take a coaching role in an Abu Dhabi school. But Jones admitted to BBC Sport: "We're always open to offers, aren't we." Turner's assistant coach Darren Edwards, the highly-respected Welsh under-20 coach, has taken over the reigns at the Men of Gwent until the end of the season when a permanent coach will be appointed. Jones and namesake Kingsley Jones, the former Sale Sharks coach and former Wales captain, are among the favourites to replace Turner on a full-time basis following his departure by "mutual consent". Edwards could also be handed his first permanent club role in the summer should the Dragons wish to promote from within. But Jones, who coached the Ospreys for five years before his departure in 2008, is interested in the Dragons position but insists no contact has been made between himself and the region. The former Wales flanker, who had been club coach at Neath before the advent of regional rugby, inspired the Ospreys to two Magners League crowns and the 2008 EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph before he left in May 2008.  | It's very sad what's happened to Paul and it will be interesting to see which way Gwent want to take their future Former Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones |
Jones joined the Dragons backroom team in November of that in a temporary consultancy role before agreeing an 18-month deal as attack coach in early January. But he announced his intention to swap Newport for Abu Dhabi the following month to become director of rugby at British School Al Khubairat. However, Jones could be tempted back to Welsh rugby and back to the Dragons. "You never know what's round the corner," Jones told BBC Wales' Scrum V show. "It's very sad what's happened to Paul and it will be interesting to see which way Gwent want to take their future. "Things are going well in the last couple of weeks for them and I'm sure they are looking at all options they have at the moment. "Maybe they will appoint from within, who knows what the plan is with Gwent rugby. "They should be looking for a figurehead, someone experienced to come in. "There are a bunch of young coaches there and young coaches can harm a team in many respects as they are learning their trade as they go on. "You need to give young coaches a bit of time and space to grow up and to thrust that crowd into the fore I think would be a big mistake." He added: "I'm enjoying myself in Abu-Dhabi at the moment, it's a great time."
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