Jermaine Brown is hoping some tips from the top can help him become a fans' favourite at Lewes.

Brown worked with the likes of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp during his three years as a professional with Arsenal.

There were high hopes for him at Highbury but things did not work out and after seven League appearances for Colchester and Boston he is looking to relaunch his career at the Dripping Pan.

The 21-year-old attacker was unveiled as Steven King's ninth summer signing when the Rooks returned to pre-season training at Pease Pottage, near Crawley, on Saturday.

King believes Brown could fill the role linking midfield and attack that was performed so well last season by Anthony Storey, who switched to Eastbourne Borough last week.

Brown, who had a spell out of football after leaving Boston, is certainly keen to take the chance offered to him by King.

He said: "It didn't quite work out for me at Boston as I didn't see eye to eye with the manager, Steve Evans, and I have been out for a while now.

"Steve King gave me a call and said he could get me back on terms again. I am here and I am very grateful for that. I want to work hard and try to get the team up to the Conference.

"I owe Steve King a lot. I was down and out. He came with a phone call out of nowhere and I'm very thankful. He is very ambitious and he wants to take this club forward. I can see it already and I am willing to be part of that."

Brown was with Arsenal from the age of nine and believes his time there can only benefit Lewes.

He said: "It was a great experience. As a youngster, that is the club to be at. There have been some great players like Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Tony Adams and Ian Wright while I was there.

"It came to that time that I had to move on to further my career but they all gave me good advice.

"They gave me ideas and built up my confidence. They said don't get down, keep playing because I have got that potential.

"When you got called over from the reserves to train with the first team and you looked around at the likes of Bergkamp and Henry you could get starstruck. But it was a great experience and it is great to have it on my CV that I have been around great players, world cup winners."

King said: "One thing is for sure you know if you have been at Arsenal for ten years and you don't make it there, you will still come out a good player.

"Many people were surprised when he was released and he lost his way this last year. It didn't work out at Boston and he needed an arm around him to coax him back into football with someone he can trust again and, hopefully, I am that man.

"As one door closes, another one opens. Anthony Storey was a very good player and did well for us last year but Jermaine Brown is equally good if not better than Storey would be for us."

Brown joined fellow new arrivals Mo Harkin and Sean Hankin, who both played for Crawley last season, ex-Peterborough defender Dean Hooper, goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson, one-time France under-21 striker Jean-Michel Sigere, former West Ham and Bournemouth forward Amos Foyewa plus defender Leon Legge, who has arrived from Hailsham, at training on Saturday.

Dwain Clarke, who has returned to the club from Aldershot, was not present after getting married.

There were also a number of triallists including Horsham's Gary Charman and a defender who has played professionally in France.

King said: "The club has come a long way. We are trying to get to that next level. We have definitely got a stronger squad than last year.

"We have got eight or nine Conference National players who were regulars for their sides last year. To get that quality to Lewes can only be good for the club.

"Let's hope everybody gives the new players a chance because they are undoubtedly quality players. That is why everybody in the Conference south is tipping us to do well."