WELSH Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips has warned that it will take at least a couple of years to turn around the fortunes of Newport Gwent Dragons if the governing body’s takeover deal gets the green light.

Newport RFC shareholders will vote on Tuesday about whether to agree to the proposal that will see the WRU take control of the Dragons and also ownership of Rodney Parade.

The region finish their Guinness PRO12 campaign against Cardiff Blues in Caerphilly tomorrow and need to win to avoid finishing 11th in the table while they haven’t won in any competition since January 16.

The WRU boss has stressed that a takeover will not lead to a dramatic and sudden upturn in fortunes.

“We've almost got to, not quite start again, but build something sustainable,” said Phillips to BBC’s ScrumV Radio.

“One of the things we are keen to point out is that if we take over the Dragons I don't think we are going to be winning the PRO12 any time soon.

“We've got to go back in, try and make it sustainable financially, work with the players, get the coaching and off-field environment spot-on. We know from other clubs that it takes two or three years to get those foundations in place.”

Phillips also praised the Friends of Newport Rugby for improving the proposal, which needs the rubber stamp from 75 per cent of shareholders on Tuesday.

FoNR have been to the fore of efforts to get as good a deal as possible for the Black and Ambers as well as the Dragons.

Earlier this week the governing body agreed to some concessions and will now allow Newport to use the David Watkins Suite on matchdays to raise funds while the room in the Bisley Stand that is currently an education suite can be turned into a Black and Ambers museum.

Memorabilia could be housed there and it will be available for club officials to use as a meeting room and office.

“I’ve met the FoNR two or three times and they’ve been great,” said Phillips. “They've brought a lot to it and helped us to shape the final parts of the offer that we can make.

“I met 200-odd shareholders [and supporters] at the ground and again that really helped me to understand where they are at and what they want to get from the deal as and when it goes through.

“We have made a few tweaks that hopefully strengthens what is on the table and we hope we get a positive vote on Tuesday.

“It's like any deal you do really in that you do the best you can but there's nothing quite like meeting the people who care deeply about what the final solution is going to be.

“It was less about trying to sell the deal and more about really understanding what is important to people.

“What we don’t want is to get a vote where people aren’t happy with the outcome, we want people to buy into whatever solution is tabled because we want the ground to fill up and we want a successful future there.”