CHIEF executive Stuart Davies has pledged that Lyn Jones will be backed in the transfer market to bolster the Newport Gwent Dragons squad for next season.

The Dragons have qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup but have struggled in the Guinness Pro12 with just Treviso beneath them in the table.

They have been hindered by long-term injuries with their squad stretched to the limit in the absence of wings Hallam Amos, Tom Prydie and Matthew Pewtner, centres Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon and Pat Leach, fly-half Dorian Jones, lock Andrew Coombs and back row forwards James Thomas, Ollie Griffiths and most recently Ed Jackson.

Director of rugby Jones yesterday said his squad needed luck with injuries rather than a major overhaul and the Dragons have so far been quiet in the transfer market.

But with big earner Taulupe Faletau leaving for Bath, Davies insists the management team will have funds at their disposal to bolster their ranks.

"We have a commitment in the Rugby Services Agreement (with the Welsh Rugby Union) of a minimum squad spend but there is nothing to stop us going beyond that, which is where I'd like us to be in the future," he said.

"We are shaping next season's squad with that minimum spend in mind, which we will meet, and there is plenty going on here to bring in more support, sponsorship and revenue so that the budgets can grow.

"At the same time, in running a sustainable and viable business you can't overstretch yourself. There is always that balance.

"The challenge as I see it is for Lyn and his management team to get the best out of the squad that they have available and the challenge for me and the board is to give them a better squad in terms of its breadth and depth so that we are challenging more than we are currently.

"But we have been unfortunate because we were very excited about a new start based on how the end of last season went and then the likes of Tyler, Hallam, Jack and others suffered injuries."

Davies stressed the importance of marrying recruitment with rewarding young talent with fresh long-term deals on better terms.

"It wouldn't be for me to comment on Lyn's squad arrangement but what he is on record as saying is that he is in his third season in charge and the churn is his squad is much reduced," said the former Wales back row forward.

"I look at the squad currently and in terms of future planning we've had discussions about contract renewals of a pool of talent at the Dragons that is settled and has a lot of potential rather than change for change's sake.

"There is a degree of having to keep the faith but we are not finished yet. The make-up of the squad isn't complete and it's 'watch this space' to an extent."