Paul Turner is the leading contender to take the Dragons job

Australian Anderson will leave at the end of the season after just a year in charge at Rodney Parade.

Harlequins assistant coach and former Wales fly-half Paul Turner is tipped to take over - a choice that would please WRU chief executive David Moffett.

"We'd obviously like to see a Welsh coach appointed - as long as we've got the right person for the job," he said.

"We need to be planning Mike Ruddock's successor [as Wales coach].

"He's only started and has got a long way to go, but we've always got to be looking ahead.

The Dragons need stability and must draw up a five-year plan Out-going Dragons coach Chris Anderson

"If we were able to have four Welsh coaches coaching the regions, it's going to make our succession planning an awful lot easier."

Whoever lands the Dragons job, he will be the fourth coach since the region's inception just two years ago.

Ruddock left to coach Wales after a relatively successful first term; Declan Kidney lasted three weeks before being released to coach Leinster, and then the region gambled on former rugby league coach Chris Anderson.

The Dragons say the financial cutbacks resulting from the imminent departure of benefactor of Tony Brown are to blame for Anderson's exit.

But the straight-talking Aussie is adamant the region will continue to struggle unless a new coach is given more time in charge.

"They need to get the right bloke as coach and keep him for three years. He needs to be allowed to work," said Anderson.

"The Dragons need stability and must draw up a five-year plan.

"In this game, you need to know where you are going - and I don't think they know that here."