NEWPORT owner Tony Brown, pictured, has made a sensational bid to buy Rotherham and with it a place in the English Zurich Premiership.

The plan is in its infancy and there are big problems ahead, but if successful Brown would take over Rotherham, bring some of their players to Rodney Parade and play as Newport in the Zurich Premiership.

Newport could also use their unique dual membership of the RFU and WRU to field another team in the Welsh Premier Division.

Brown has become increasingly frustrated at the failure of the Welsh Rugby Union to make any progress in the reform of the game.

He has been critical of their operation and still nothing has happened. And there is even an attempt at next month's extraordinary meeting of all the Welsh clubs to increase the number of teams in the top division.

So Brown has used Newport's dual membership to boldly seek a place in the English set-up, which is acknowledged as one of the best leagues in the world.

"I've got no comment to make on this at all. I'm neither denying nor admitting it," said Brown today.

The story leaked from Rotherham, 12 points ahead of Worcester on top of the First Division, who are having problems as their ground doesn't meet Premiership criteria.

They have failed to gain permission from co-tenants Rotherham Cricket Club for ground improvements and are now hoping to share Rotherham Football Club's Millmoor ground.

Rugby owner Mike Yarlett, who admits he has had contact with Brown, said: "He has expressed interest in buying Rotherham. I would prefer to keep the club here, but if we are not allowed to play at Millmoor I will not be able to continue to attract the players needed to keep the club at this level."

Brown has already put millions of his own money into Newport and he would have to fork out at least another £1m for Rotherham.

An RFU spokesman says Brown will have problems basing an English club in Wales and with regulations which restrict an individual to more than a 25 percent stake in another club.

There is also a belief that Yarlett is letting the story out to try to force the hand of the local council and the RFU.