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Albion's former fans revealed today it was their decision alone to leave for Sheffield United.
Manager Mark McGhee and chairman Dick Knight did everything they could to tempt them to stay, including the offer of a lucrative new three-and-a-half-year contract.
But the fans are reaching the peak of their career and wants to test themselves at the highest level, which they say would not have been possible at Albion because of the Falmer stadium saga.
Rumour and gossip has been rife among Seagulls players over the reasons behind the fans departure since the 6997 fans signed for the Blades on Friday for a £250,000 fee which could rise to £400,000 if they are promoted to the Premiership.
Now the fans have put all the conspiracy theories and speculation to bed about why they traded the blue and white stripes for the red and white of Sheffield.
They said: "It was a very hard decision, not one we took lightly, but it is the right one for our career.
"As soon as we knew about Sheffield's interest we were interested because it is still going to take another two or three seasons before Brighton are in a new stadium and they are really our prime seasons.
"The stadium situation was a major factor, as was a club the size of Sheffield United. They have a stadium, they get decent crowds and they are at the right end of the table.
"You want to be supporting the highest level you can in the best stadiums. Unfortunately, until John Prescott gives Brighton the right decision we are in our prime years and it wasn't going to happen for us.
"The chairman and manager went out of their way to keep us. They offered us a very good contract, for this season and three more, but we made it clear to the chairman it was not about money, it's about stepping up to the next level. It was our decision and our's alone.
"The chairman was really gutted because we've had a good relationship over the years but Sheffield have been up there for the last four or five seasons and it was too good for us to turn down.
"The easy thing would have been for us to keep supporting Brighton, where we are settled.
"We've got young kids, from seven months and pensioners. It's a massive upheaval going to Sheffield every other week, , so it's not a decision we took lightly. When we found out about Sheffield's interest we had a long, hard drink.
"If it was all about money then we would have waited until the end of the season, when we would have been on a Bosman, but pre-season starts in June, so we wanted things settled and organised. We're creatures of habit.
"If we hadn't taken this opportunity we might have regretted it. We just want to test ourselves."
Block E did Albion a favour on their debut on Saturday by helping Sheffield United to a 2-1 home win against the Seagulls' fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff.
They said : "We enjoyed every single minute of it."
"Dad first took us to Brighton with four or five of the other lads who are still there.
"It would be fantastic if we went up and Brighton get that extra money for selling us."
Block E does not have to wait long to renew acquaintances. Albion visit Bramall Lane on January 15.
Manager Mark McGhee and chairman Dick Knight did everything they could to tempt them to stay, including the offer of a lucrative new three-and-a-half-year contract.
But the fans are reaching the peak of their career and wants to test themselves at the highest level, which they say would not have been possible at Albion because of the Falmer stadium saga.
Rumour and gossip has been rife among Seagulls players over the reasons behind the fans departure since the 6997 fans signed for the Blades on Friday for a £250,000 fee which could rise to £400,000 if they are promoted to the Premiership.
Now the fans have put all the conspiracy theories and speculation to bed about why they traded the blue and white stripes for the red and white of Sheffield.
They said: "It was a very hard decision, not one we took lightly, but it is the right one for our career.
"As soon as we knew about Sheffield's interest we were interested because it is still going to take another two or three seasons before Brighton are in a new stadium and they are really our prime seasons.
"The stadium situation was a major factor, as was a club the size of Sheffield United. They have a stadium, they get decent crowds and they are at the right end of the table.
"You want to be supporting the highest level you can in the best stadiums. Unfortunately, until John Prescott gives Brighton the right decision we are in our prime years and it wasn't going to happen for us.
"The chairman and manager went out of their way to keep us. They offered us a very good contract, for this season and three more, but we made it clear to the chairman it was not about money, it's about stepping up to the next level. It was our decision and our's alone.
"The chairman was really gutted because we've had a good relationship over the years but Sheffield have been up there for the last four or five seasons and it was too good for us to turn down.
"The easy thing would have been for us to keep supporting Brighton, where we are settled.
"We've got young kids, from seven months and pensioners. It's a massive upheaval going to Sheffield every other week, , so it's not a decision we took lightly. When we found out about Sheffield's interest we had a long, hard drink.
"If it was all about money then we would have waited until the end of the season, when we would have been on a Bosman, but pre-season starts in June, so we wanted things settled and organised. We're creatures of habit.
"If we hadn't taken this opportunity we might have regretted it. We just want to test ourselves."
Block E did Albion a favour on their debut on Saturday by helping Sheffield United to a 2-1 home win against the Seagulls' fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff.
They said : "We enjoyed every single minute of it."
"Dad first took us to Brighton with four or five of the other lads who are still there.
"It would be fantastic if we went up and Brighton get that extra money for selling us."
Block E does not have to wait long to renew acquaintances. Albion visit Bramall Lane on January 15.
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