FORMER Newport Gwent Dragons back-rower Andy Powell has fired a parting shot at the Dragons management set-up after leaving the club last week, writes Jordan Trott.

The 2009 British Lion only managed to play in 10 games for the Dragons and has joined Welsh Championship side Merthyr, ahead of next season. “They weren't picking the players who should have been picked,” said the former Wales international.

Despite a season which saw the Dragons make a European Challenge Cup final and finish ahead of local rivals Cardiff Blues, Powell claimed that the players were stale.

“We had a good enough squad to play two teams and when some boys are not getting picked, they get stale,” he explained.

Powell struggled with form and fitness in his first season back in the Pro12 after leaving English Premiership side Sale and was subsequently released.

Powell went to on to say that he wasn’t happy during his time at Rodney Parade “You need to have a bit of fun in the game. The last few years, I haven’t really enjoyed it.

“The Dragons last year, it was good at the time, but I didn't really enjoy it.”

Powell, whose infamous golf buggy incident in 2010 landed him in hot water, admitted he is perhaps too outspoken but asserted that he and others were mistreated. “Sometimes I do need to probably shut it, I've been around the block and they weren't picking the players which should have been picked,” he said. He also implied that his candid attitude towards the predicament cost him his place "I didn't play too much. Everybody knows me - I speak my mind."

Powell has been capped 23 times by Wales and was part of a quartet of Welsh internationals brought in by Lyn Jones at the start of last season that did not work out. Powell has signed for Merthyr, Lee Bryne and Ian Gough have retired whilst Aled Brew still remains at the club.

Powell is excited by his challenge at Merthyr.

“It’s going to be good here,” he said.

“Already, I can see the boys are gelling. I’ve been in squads where some players are pulling one way and others another. It’s been the same with coaches as well but everyone seems to be pulling in the same direction here.

“I’m just happy to be here. It’s different and there’s not pressure but I’m going to give everything at Merthyr, as I did at every other club I’ve been at.

“I said to the lads here ‘let’s play hard and have a crack but let’s enjoy it and have a bit of fun’. If you take the fun away, you don’t enjoy it.

“I’ve seen it so many times at professional level, people being serious all the time and never smiling.”