CALL the Gwent regional rugby side Newport Gwent Dragons now - and ask Tony Brown to return, pleads Dennis Bennett, chairman of Newport RFC Supporters Club.

But Gwent Dragons chief executive David Jenkins says they will remain a regional entity even if the Newport name is in the title, and the Dragons are balloting season ticket holders over the name to re-awaken the interest of the 3,000 fans who haven't bought a ticket.

"We're glad that the management of the regional team has realised that without the support of the Newport fan base the regional team is not economically viable," said Bennett.

"I'm still not sure if this offer is going to be enough to satisfy the thousands of Newport supporters who signed the petition to have the word Newport part of the title of the new team.

"It would be far better for everyone if this new team was simply called Newport Gwent Dragons. Let's bite the bullet now so that we can all start pulling in the same direction.

"I am very concerned there is also a lack of trust among Newport fans when dealing with the new team. This regional side needs Tony Brown on board to reclaim some credibility."

Jenkins stressed, "The main reason we are doing this is lots of Newport season ticket holders have asked why not a joint ticket, but because of the delays we couldn't do it.

"We are saying, if you want to do both there's a joint ticket out there and you can take part in a ballot. But it is still a regional entity if the Newport name is in it.

"Technically Newport could be in the name, but it has to be a regional entity."

Jenkins stressed that they would lose Objective One European money for the proposed Gwent Academy if the region was lost, as well as £300,000 WRU money if it became stand alone.

He also says that the Gwent season ticket sale is no less than Newport's at a similar stage.

"The thrust of this is to satisfy those who want a joint ticket and to reawaken the interest of the 3,000 who haven't bought a ticket."

Martyn Hazell, Newport's representative on the Gwent Dragons board, urges fans to have faith.

"This is what the Newport board have been fighting for, now we're asking the fans to show faith in the board and start buying tickets in numbers," he said.

"If they do that perhaps we can have a cut-off date by the end of September." It could even be that supporters will be able to vote as they pick their season tickets up.