WHERE to start? What a tumultuous few days on the Newport Gwent Dragons front, a region where nothing very much takes place, but suddenly it's all happening.

No sooner has head coach Paul Turner been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing than Tony Brown is back on the board, joined in a non executive capacity by Dylan Matthews.

That's one heck of a lot for fans to take in. For some there will be disappointment and sadness about the Turner development while everyone will be ecstatic about the re-emergence of iconic figure Brown and the interest shown by Matthews.

It is stressed on all sides that this will not herald the arrival of huge financial aid and the arrival of world renowned players, as was the case when Brown lifted Newport out of the doldrums a decade ago.

But for all that their presence will undoubtedly lift expectations, there's no escaping that given the prominence of the pair in the business community, their wealth and their expertise.

More likely, though, is that they will lift the profile of the region, something badly needed after they have spent years bumping along on or near the bottom of the pile.

It will also, as chairman Martyn Hazell says, provide credibility and stability.

And what better signal to send to the Welsh Rugby Union who had doubted the Dragons to have two of the biggest businessmen in the area on board.

For the Celtic Manor and Bisley Office Equipment are right up there in the forefront of the business community with a worldwide standing and reputation fronted by Brown and Terry Matthews, father of Dylan.

The Celtic Manor has established itself as one of the top golf and leisure complexes anywhere, known in far off Japan as well as all over Europe and America. And the guy responsible for the day to day running of the place is now on the Dragons board!

And it hardly needs me to remind everyone of what Brown means in this community.

He not only poured millions into bringing star names to Rodney Parade to play for Newport then the Dragons - players like Gary Teichmann, Shane Howarth and Percy Montgomery - he brought a level of marketing expertise that ignited the whole business, He also proved very much a man of the people and they loved him for it. They will be dancing with delight at his return. The Turner matter is very different, of course.

He now finds himself the subject of an internal inquiry after a couple of unfortunate incidents off the field, accusing the Wales management team of injuring Dan Lydiate during one of their tests and then threatening a newspaper reporter after he was asked a question he did not appreciate. As the huge response on our website shows opinion is very much divided, some in favour of Turner and others against.

What I will say after many years of experience is you do need a very thick skin in this job whether a coach, player or member of the media.

On one notable occasion I was very much threatened by an official who still happens to be around, and the incident was witnessed by others, but I laughed it off, took it no further and certainly didn't make an official complaint.

And whatever the rights and wrongs of the Turner incident no-one could question his commitment to the Dragons.

It's his home region, he dearly wanted success but in the main had to operate with one hand tied behind his back because of the major financial constraints.

He has not had the budget to bring in top players and for the same reason the squad has never had sufficient depth so that when injuries kick in it becomes a struggle to field a competitive team never mind a winning one.

Some of his signings have undoubtedly been questionable, some from overseas of doubtful quality and a few domestic ones not up to standard either.

But there have been notable successes, too, and most of all Turner has developed local products which by and large has to be the way to go in Wales where the economic recession has bitten the hardest.

Turner has never been afraid to give youth a chance and he has never been afraid to throw youngsters in, Dan Lydiate, Jason Tovey and Toby Faletau being classic examples.

As we speak, he is still the Dragons head coach and will be at least until the inquiry is complete. I find the whole situation extremely sad, but we await the outcome which should be known by the end of next week.

EVENTS at the Dragons have in these parts overshadowed the Six Nations and the battle royal that awaits us on Friday night at the Millennium Stadium between Wales and England.

Both teams will be announced tomorrow, and biggest focus here will be on who plays at prop in the absence of injured pair Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones and where coach Warren Gatland picks Perpignan-bound James Hook.

Paul James and Craig Mitchell appear the favourites to fill in at prop, risky against the English juggernaut but Gatland's hands are tied and the opposition are without Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft and Lewis Moody so that could even things up.

As for Hook, the speculation is he could return to his favourite position of outside half with Stephen Jones standing down and Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies the centres though both are essentially 12s.

But I wouldn't rule out Hook playing in the full back position he has occupied during the last two autumn series at the expense of Lee Byrne, whose form hasn't been great, has suffered injuries and has also been in trouble with the management.

There will also be lots of interest in the back row and whether Gatland persists with the likes of Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas or takes the plunge with youth and goes for Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton in his back row.

Either way, it's going to be a crackerjack of an opener, with momentum all important.

The winners will gain hugely in confidence for the rest of the tournament whereas the losers will be on the back foot and it'll be uphill all the way, especially if it's Wales with three away fixtures to follow.

And it's the start of World Cup year, too. No pressure then!