The Dragons have revealed how a last-minute offer saw them lose Wales and British & Irish Lions star Ross Moriarty to French club Brive.
Wales star Moriarty has left the region with immediate effect to help Brive in their bid to avoid relegation from the Top 14.
The Dragons had been extremely confident of retaining the 28-year-old after his move to Bayonne fell through, but in the end had to concede defeat when Brive came in with a big offer.
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"He's had an offer which came in at the last minute and it was something he couldn't turn down," said Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan.
"We thought we were there but unfortunately it didn't happen because of what came up. He came up straight to my face, and he appreciated the offer he got given off us.
"We offered him the maximum we could because we think he's worth that for us but unfortunately this has come.
"I like his honesty and Ross' want to fight for something. That's led to the early release.
"He's gone to Brive and he wants to fight for his new club and help them survive. That sums him up if I'm honest."
The Dragons had offered Moriarty £280,000, which is the maximum a player can be offered in Wales, so now have some money available to strengthen the squad with Scarlets scrum-half Dane Blacker expected to sign.
One player who is on the market is veteran Wales blindside Dan Lydiate who is out of contract with the Ospreys at the end of the season.
Flanagan admitted he was a big fan of Lydiate but hinted he'd prefer to strengthen the second-row.
"We are quite settled in the back row if I am perfectly honest," he said. "We have got lock who can play six very well and that allows us to move others to eight to cover that.
"Dan (Lydiate) personally would be somebody we will take a big interest in. It is whether we can make it happen.
"I haven't spoken to Dan, I haven't even started a conversation but again does it fit is the question we always have to ask? Person wise he would be ideal but we also need big men in the pack.
"If you look at Glasgow they had four locks 6ft 7in plus. We have big locks but we don’t have a 6ft 7in or 6ft 8in guy. So we may take our time and look at that route.
"It puts us in an exciting time of how we can build not only the team but also to develop better people and better players."
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