THE search to find a new synchro partner for Tom Daley is gathering pace after Southampton's Max Brick had trials with the city star in Plymouth, Herald Sport can reveal.

National 10-metre platform synchro champion Brick, and British and European individual title holder Daley, went through their routines last weekend at Plymouth Diving Club's headquarters in Central Park.

Brick, who is 17 in July, stayed with the Daley family overnight on Friday and according to 14-year-old Tom, is an 'amazing kid'.

British selectors need to find a long-term replacement for Blake Aldridge, who seems to have dived his last with Plymouth's record-breaking wonder-boy.The uneasy relationship between Daley and Blake, which came to light during last year's Olympics in Beijing, rumbled on over the winter months.

With Southampton's Aldridge unable to compete with Daley, or anybody else for that matter in July's World Championships in Rome, the search for a new dive partner has become urgent.

Aldridge, 26, had been set to strike up a partnership for the first time since the Olympics with Daley, in February's national championships, but was injured following an altercation outside a Southampton nightclub.

As a result, Daley was unable to compete in the synchros and for dad Rob it proved the last straw, with the latter claiming he did not want Aldridge involved with his son anymore.

Although no decision has been reached over the likelihood of Brick filling the void, Plymouth Diving Club's Great Britain coach Andy Banks believes finding a new partner for Daley would be the best long-term solution.

Brick is, according to Banks, one of the 'new kids on the block', and also a technically-accomplished diver in his own right.

The 16-year-old, along with Southampton buddy Jack Clewlow, took synchro gold at the national championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield last month.

Brick also finished fourth in the individual 10m platform event, which was claimed for a second year by Daley.

"Max came down here to our place and had trials with Tom, which seemed to go pretty well," said Banks.

"Nothing's been decided yet, but with the World Championships coming up in July and more importantly the 2012 Olympics just three years away, it makes sense to find a new partner for Tom.

"It's all about looking to the long term and as Max is one of the new kids on the block, it's a good time to try other options."

Daley is in individual action this weekend when he competes in the FINA Diving World Series in Doha, Qatar.

The youngster will take on the world's best in the 10m platform event.

Fellow city star Tonia Couch had to pull out of the event due to injury.