THE Dragons are considering a coaching shake-up that will see Dean Ryan pass on responsibility for on-field matters.

The Rodney Parade region had a torrid 2021/22 in which they won just two games, failed to win a game in Newport and finished one from bottom of the United Rugby Championship.

They have recruited strongly for next season with nine ready-made first team players arriving and now they are poised to make management changes.

Ryan would remain in his role of director of rugby and on the Dragons’ board but would hand over responsibility for leading the coaching to a new man.

“We are always looking at how we can be better. That is not just players, that is off field and coaching and infrastructure,” said the former England forward after Saturday’s defeat to the Lions.

“That is ongoing, it is not something that is decided now, it is ongoing and the same scrutiny applies to everyone in this place to be better.”

Former Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester boss Ryan arrived in the summer of 2019 and has overseen dramatic change to the management team, which is considerably bigger than those of his predecessors.

He has brought in forwards coaches Mefin Davies and Luke Narraway, defence coach Simon Cross and backs coach Gordon Ross plus strength and conditioning coach Dan Baugh while forwards coach Ceri Jones and backs coach Barry Maddocks headed for the exit.

Arguably a weakness of the set-up is that nobody is in a strong position to be promoted to head coach with Jones shifted on despite doing a strong job as interim boss after the departure of Bernard Jackman. He is now in charge of RGC.

Ryan enjoyed a strong first season, had a mixed second campaign and the Dragons hugely underachieved in 2021/22.

They enjoyed just two wins at Connacht and the Scarlets plus a draw against Benetton, who were without a glut of Italy internationals ahead of the Six Nations.