NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have got to get back on course - and fast if the season isn't going to start slipping away.

I know they won at Stradey Park for the first time in their first game of the season when they beat Llanelli Scarlets, but they've lost twice since then and it's not just that but the manner of the defeats.

Cardiff Blues was a home thumping and Connacht away was pretty dismal, too, coach Paul Turner and colleagues Leigh Jones and Dai Rees both times dismayed at the performance and quality - or lack of - at their disposal.

Words have been said, but still nothing has been forthcoming in the way of major new signings - it's probably too late for this season now anyway.

Successive home games against way below strength Irish opposition at least give the Dragons the chance to get back on track, Munster the visitors on Friday night and Ulster a week Saturday.

If they go down the pan as well all the decent publicity the Dragons board received for their announcement of a new stadium on the existing Rodney Parade site will simply melt away.

Not only have the Dragons board saved the region with their Rodney Parade development, they've also secured the future of Newport as well.

I know the Dragons board and Newport are virtually one and the same thing, which will alienate the rest of Gwent, so it's probably right and proper that they have done the double, so to speak.

That is unlike their rivals down the road where the Blues board have hung the Cardiff club out to dry with their decision to move to the new Leckwith Stadium and ground share with Cardiff City.

Chairman and benefactor Peter Thomas has said on the record that he doubts whether the Cardiff Club could stay at their historic Arms Park base on the back of about 15 home Premiership games in front of crowds of 1,000.

So the Arms Park ground could well be sold off, a conference centre built there instead with the team forced to move to somewhere like Sophia Gardens.

No such moves with Newport though, who, thanks to the decision to build a new stadium fit to stage regional and European rugby in the 21st century, will be able to remain at Rodney Parade for the forseeable future.

Had the out-of-town new stadium come about for the Dragons, Newport could have had to find a new home instead.

Like Cardiff they would have been unable to keep going, Rodney Parade becoming a supermarket or bulding site whatever any deeds of covenant might have stated to the contrary.