PHIL Davies, the former Wales captain now director of rugby at Leeds, wants to be the next Newport Gwent Dragons coach.

Davies is interested in the job which will be vacant at the end of the season after the Dragons board decided not to take up the option of a second year on Chris Anderson's contract.

Davies is a high profile figure who established himself with Llanelli, captaining them for six years, and also with Wales for whom he played 46 times between 1985-95 mainly at number eight but also at lock. He led his country as well.

But he decided to move away from Wales, taking over as player-coach at Leeds in 1995. They were in the English Second Division then, but he guided them to promotion into the Zurich Premiership.

He then became director of rugby and Leeds made a number of high profile signings like Iain Balshaw, Tim Stimpson and Mark Regan plus Phil Christophers and Andre Snyman as well as former Newport back row pair Alix Popham and Richard Parks.

Under his guidance they have reached the Powergen Cup final for the first time, though they have slipped to the bottom of the league table and are involved in a relegation dogfight. But Davies now appears ready to return to his native country and is interested in the Dragons post.

His name has, however, been linked with fellow struggling Zurich Premiership club Harlequins and his home club Llanelli Scarlets as well.

Dragons' directors return from holidays this week when they will have to address the coaching situation.

Paul Turner, backs coach at Harlequins and a former Newport and Newbridge captain, is also interested in the post. The board have the option of staying with Leigh Jones, current Dragons forwards coach and former Newport coach, and Dai Rees, head of the Dragons Academy and a coach of the Wales Under-21 squad.

Money, or the lack of it with benefactor Tony Brown finishing at the end of the season, could well be the determining factor in the decision by the Dragons board.

But it is important they act sooner rather than later so that whoever takes over can work with the squad now and with a number of new young players the Dragons are believed to be attracting.

Doubts about the future of Wales scrum half Gareth Cooper can be discounted. He has suffered a number of injuries this season and has been limited to just eight starts out of 23, but he won't be leaving.