NEW Dragons boss Bernard Jackman has been hailed as a 'relentless' coach who will bring an attacking brand of rugby to Rodney Parade.

The 41-year-old former Ireland hooker will be unveiled as new head coach tomorrow afternoon after being appointed as replacement for Kingsley Jones last Monday.

The Welsh Rugby Union, who will take over control of the Dragons on July 1, conducted a review of the management set-up and opted for a new man at the helm with Jackman getting the seal of approval from Wales and Lions boss Warren Gatland, who was his coach at Connacht.

The Irishman heads for Newport after six seasons in the Top 14 with Grenoble, initially joining the club as a skills consultant in 2011 before becoming forwards coach and then head coach.

Last season the club suffered relegation from the top flight after a turbulent campaign in which the squad were asked to take a pay cut because of financial issues.

But Mike Prendergast, who was backs coach at Grenoble, believes the Dragons will reap the rewards from Jackman testing himself as a boss in the brutal French league.

"Bernard works relentlessly, getting in early in the morning, and his recruitment is very shrewd with good contacts," said the former scrum-half, who is staying in the Top 14 as backs coach at Oyonnax.

"He is very organised and a good communicator while he goes to Newport with some valuable experiences from going outside of his comfort zone in the Top 14.

"Last year was tough for us on and off the pitch but it will serve Bernard well and with the Union taking over at the Dragons these are exciting times."

Jackman may have been a front-rower in his playing days but Prendergast believes he will retain his natural attacking instincts to play with panache in Newport.

Grenoble suffered relegation after finishing 13th but they did score 58 tries in 26 games, a strike rate that put them eighth, while the previous season only the top six play-off teams bettered their tally of 60 tries.

The Dragons, meanwhile, crossed 38 times in 22 games to be joint 10th in the Guinness PRO12 try chart last season and in 2015/16 were bottom with 33.

"Bernard was skills coach, then defence coach and then became head coach but he always had a big emphasis on attack," said Prendergast.

"He is an attack-minded coach and at Grenoble we entertained and scored tries, so I am sure he will have the same approach at the Dragons."

"He looks for honest, hard-working players who do their homework because he is detailed in his gameplan," continued the former Munster, Gloucester and Bourgoin half-back.

"I am sure he will identify the leaders over the coming weeks and months and work closely with them. It's a new era for the Dragons, so I am sure exciting times lie ahead."