TOM Brown's hopes of landing a Premier League berth in 2006, at least for the start of the season, are receding with only Berwick offering a glimmer of hope.

The 21-year-old from Cwmbran joined Stoke recently in a swap deal that took Tony Atkin to Newport and Brown had hoped that he might figure at Loomer Road.

But the Potters announced earlier this week that Barrie Evans would be back and that, under the new grading regulations, rules out Brown.

"It's very frustrating, though I did expect Barrie to be offered a team place based on what he did there last year," said Brown who has been assessed as a Grade B rider for the Premier League.

"My hopes for 2006 had been to get a decent run in a Premier League outfit and I'm still hopeful that I might squeeze in somewhere along the line.

"It's looking very unlikely for the start of the year now though because most teams are sorted.

"There might be a possibility at Berwick which is a track I know well - but it's no more than a possibility right now."

Brown has spent most of his fledgling career in the Conference League where, on the whole, he has flourished.

He recovered from serious back injuries three years ago and had a good spell with Stoke in 2004 and was a forceful part of Weymouth's triumphs last season.

"Last year was really good for me and I wanted to carry that confidence and form in to a higher level this year," he pointed out.

"I feel I have served a lengthy apprenticeship and am ready for the next step.

"Only time will tell if it would work out, but I do feel capable of meeting the extra demands and I am still hopeful of squeezing in somewhere during the season.

"At the moment, I'm expecting to find a Conference League berth somewhere and more should happen after next week when the promoters get together for their conference.

"Stoke own my contract so I might figure there, though I am quite open minded right now.

"I have been working and training hard and we have started putting the bikes together.

"I will get out to some of the training schools soon and then it's just a case of wait-and-see."