Miami Seagull
Grandad
A Seagulls insider yesterday revealed to Vital BHA that last summer chairman Dick Knight interfered with Mark McGhee's transfer plans.
The transfer in question was the loan deal for French goalkeeper Florent Chaigneau. Our source has claimed that when the 'keeper arrived for a trial, goalkeeping coach John Keeley decided he wasn't worth keeping but this decision was over ruled by Knight who forced McGhee to enter into a season long loan for the player.
Upon his debut against Shrewsbury in the League Cup on August 23rd, Chaigneau appeared uncertain and error prone as Albion slipped to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the League Two side.
Boxing day saw the Frenchman storm off in a huff as he was only named on the bench for the match against QPR and he felt he should start ahead of the returning Michel Kuipers.
Apparently he apologised to McGhee and made his first league start on January 2nd, a decision which reportedly inflamed striker Leon Knight, due to the Scot dropping Kuipers, to the extent it ended his time at the Albion. It has also been claimed that this decision caused a rift between Kuipers and McGhee and currently looks set to drive the Dutchman out of Brighton.
Regardless of the squad arguments, in financial terms Chaigneau was a total waste. A year in loan wages spent on a man who made only three appearances. It certainly appears Dick Knight made a costly mistake.
The transfer in question was the loan deal for French goalkeeper Florent Chaigneau. Our source has claimed that when the 'keeper arrived for a trial, goalkeeping coach John Keeley decided he wasn't worth keeping but this decision was over ruled by Knight who forced McGhee to enter into a season long loan for the player.
Upon his debut against Shrewsbury in the League Cup on August 23rd, Chaigneau appeared uncertain and error prone as Albion slipped to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the League Two side.
Boxing day saw the Frenchman storm off in a huff as he was only named on the bench for the match against QPR and he felt he should start ahead of the returning Michel Kuipers.
Apparently he apologised to McGhee and made his first league start on January 2nd, a decision which reportedly inflamed striker Leon Knight, due to the Scot dropping Kuipers, to the extent it ended his time at the Albion. It has also been claimed that this decision caused a rift between Kuipers and McGhee and currently looks set to drive the Dutchman out of Brighton.
Regardless of the squad arguments, in financial terms Chaigneau was a total waste. A year in loan wages spent on a man who made only three appearances. It certainly appears Dick Knight made a costly mistake.