PAUL Brush's search for a new goalkeeper continues after he conceded defeat in his attempts to sign giant American stopper Ian Feuer.

The former West Ham and Wimbledon keeper had impressed during his trial spell at Brisbane Road and the Orient manager was looking to tie up a deal for a player he saw as being a key figure in the club's promotion push next season.

He said: "We still have not heard from Ian or his agent and after making a fantastic offer to him on Friday they said they would give us an answer within 24 hours, but that hasn't happened yet.

"I know that he has been touted and pushed to go to clubs in higher divisions, but I think he needs to be playing regularly. We have bent over backwards financially to get him, but the whole situation has dragged on for too long.

"I have got a clear conscious that we did our best to get him because it is a hell of an offer he is turning down here and the chance to resurrect his career."

Brush has however moved swiftly to fill the void, by inviting young Chelsea stopper Rhys Evans to join the club for two days of training.

The England under-20 international joined up with the Orient squad yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) with a view to a loan deal should he impress, although Brush has competition from Bournemouth who a interested in securing his services on a similar deal following a successful trial with the Cherries recently.

Brush said: "I have heard a lot of good things from people about him and Ian Holloway at QPR told me how well he did there on loan last season.

"Chelsea have no intention of letting us have Rhys on a permanent basis, but they will let us have him for two days with an initial view to taking him on loan.

"They don't however just want him to come here as a squad player, so we will have to assess him very closely in the time he is with us and see if we want to take matters further."

August 8, 2002 10:30