BOSS Dean Ryan says more “resources, support, time and experience” is needed to help the Dragons move forward, and he has called on supporters to be patient in the region’s quest for success.

The Men of Gwent have started the season with three wins from their first seven games, and they will hope to bag another tomorrow out in Russia against Enisei-STM (kick-off 3pm GMT).

But after all the changes at Rodney Parade in recent years, Ryan, while happy to see the fans enjoy victories like the one over Castres last weekend, is eager for them not get too carried away.

Former England forward Ryan sees “great potential” at the region, but he knows there are some key “component blocks” that must be garnered to ensure progress is made.

“I’ve always seen the potential in this squad, I just don’t see it on the same timeline as everyone else,” he said.

“Everyone else wants it to be about the next month or next three months, but I’ve never been like that because it’s unfair on the group.

“It doesn’t have strong enough resources to be able to do that.

“I’ve always seen us getting the first steps right to realise potential is over a longer timeline than everyone else.

“I’ve always been aware that if you win a game, everyone thinks it’s on a shorter timeline, and I’m not.

“I see great potential in this place. I love working here with people who want to get better, but we need more resources, support, time and experience.

“Those are all component blocks that will help this region keep moving forward.

“Accelerating some of our best talent in and thinking that will be the answer is just unrealistic.

“It’s been done before and failed, and it’s not where we want to be.

“We’re very clear on what our plans are over one, two and three years, and they incrementally build to us getting better.

“I do ask for people to be patient and for them to enjoy moments when we win, but let’s not shrink all our timelines and think that distorts where we are.

“That will damage the trajectory of some of the people within it.”

Taine Basham’s hat-trick inspired Ryan’s men to victory over Castres, and more of the same would be welcomed at the Kuban Stadium in Krasnodar.

But Russia hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for the Dragons – a 38-18 loss in October 2016 was a particularly painful experience for those who travelled east.

“I’m hoping the rugby momentum continues with us and we keep building,” said the director of rugby ahead of the European Challenge Cup showdown.

“Nobody has a right to win. If you don’t turn up in the right space and give the opponent the right respect then this game is great because it can take that away from anybody.

“We have used that to our own advantage in the past and this is a situation where probably the pressure is on us. We have got to turn up and do it right.

“If you want to be in this side you need to play well against Enisei and you need to get lots of things right to knock on my door and say ‘I should be in against Zebre’.”