Rochester Seagull
New member
Keeper wants Seagulls deal
by Mike Donovan
Talks: Dave Beasant
Goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan hopes to clinch a deal with Albion by impressing in the first pre-season friendly at Arundel tonight.
Flahavan expects to be given 45 minutes against the County Leaguers with fellow trialist Carl Wilson-Denis also making his debut for the Seagulls.
Albion boss Steve Coppell, who wants two senior goalkeepers, is looking at his options with talks ongoing with veteran Dave Beasant, who deputised for Michel Kuipers last season.
Flahavan, 25, was released by Southend at the end of last season after making around 140 appearances and wants to link up with Albion.
He said: "They are a quality club with a quality manager and I'm looking to be taken on.
"Working with the lads has been brilliant. They are a great bunch and the spirit is superb. That is why I think they will do well even if I'm not signed on.
"I have done okay in training and I aim to show I'm a decent goalkeeper against Arundel. I've been told I'll get 45 minutes and Michel will play the other 45. I'm looking forward to it."
Flahavan revealed he would be flexible in any contract negotiations.
He said: "I've told the manager that I'm not totally motivated by money. I know there's not loads of money in football like there was three or four years ago. I just want the chance to play."
Flahavan was a first-team regular at Southend for three years and won the players' and supporters' the player-of-the year awards in 2002.
He said: "Everything was going fine. I was rated but a new manager came in and there were financial considerations. It was a bit of a shock but I respect their decision and now I just want to secure a future with Brighton."
Flahavan revealed he is inspired by the memory of his tragic brother Aaron, the former Portsmouth goalkeeper who was killed in a car crash almost two years ago.
He said: "Aaron was my inspiration to be a goalkeeper. What happened was devastating and I still struggle to come to terms with it but his memory can live on through me. I can keep the Flahavan name alive in football."
Wilson-Denis has four days to prove he can be part of Albion's bid to bounce back to Division One.
The striker who reminds Albion manager Steve Coppell of a young Ian Wright aims to make his mark against Arundel with Coppell intending to play every member of the first team squad.
Wilson-Denis, 20, said: "This is a make or break week for me. I am desperate to do well and hope I can show what I can do at Arundel. I'm certainly up for it.
"I came three weeks ago halfway through the week and the manager was off last week. Hopefully he has liked what he has seen at training since. We've mixed it up a bit in practice games and I've enjoyed it."
With the future of Bobby Zamora uncertain, Coppell has cast a keen eye on the youngster who scored six goals in nine games for Mullingar in the Republic of Ireland Under-21s League last season after a spell with non-league Kingstonian.
Coppell said: "I'll make a decision on Carl by the end of this week.
"My first impressions are that he is good raw material with raw being the operative word. He hasn't got an extensive pro background but I'm not saying that is a massive disability, sometimes that naivety is refreshing and a real plus like it was with Ian Wright (when Coppell managed him at Crystal Palace)."
Ace striker Zamora returned for pre-season training yesterday but will not play any part in either the Arundel or Saturday's second friendly at Crawley. He was allowed to return late after playing for England under-21s following the end of last season.
Albion scholar Darren Budd has suffered a setback after an eight-month battle to fully recover from a broken leg.
The midfielder has damaged the plate on the fibia he fractured in training and it will sideline him for six weeks.
by Mike Donovan
Talks: Dave Beasant
Goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan hopes to clinch a deal with Albion by impressing in the first pre-season friendly at Arundel tonight.
Flahavan expects to be given 45 minutes against the County Leaguers with fellow trialist Carl Wilson-Denis also making his debut for the Seagulls.
Albion boss Steve Coppell, who wants two senior goalkeepers, is looking at his options with talks ongoing with veteran Dave Beasant, who deputised for Michel Kuipers last season.
Flahavan, 25, was released by Southend at the end of last season after making around 140 appearances and wants to link up with Albion.
He said: "They are a quality club with a quality manager and I'm looking to be taken on.
"Working with the lads has been brilliant. They are a great bunch and the spirit is superb. That is why I think they will do well even if I'm not signed on.
"I have done okay in training and I aim to show I'm a decent goalkeeper against Arundel. I've been told I'll get 45 minutes and Michel will play the other 45. I'm looking forward to it."
Flahavan revealed he would be flexible in any contract negotiations.
He said: "I've told the manager that I'm not totally motivated by money. I know there's not loads of money in football like there was three or four years ago. I just want the chance to play."
Flahavan was a first-team regular at Southend for three years and won the players' and supporters' the player-of-the year awards in 2002.
He said: "Everything was going fine. I was rated but a new manager came in and there were financial considerations. It was a bit of a shock but I respect their decision and now I just want to secure a future with Brighton."
Flahavan revealed he is inspired by the memory of his tragic brother Aaron, the former Portsmouth goalkeeper who was killed in a car crash almost two years ago.
He said: "Aaron was my inspiration to be a goalkeeper. What happened was devastating and I still struggle to come to terms with it but his memory can live on through me. I can keep the Flahavan name alive in football."
Wilson-Denis has four days to prove he can be part of Albion's bid to bounce back to Division One.
The striker who reminds Albion manager Steve Coppell of a young Ian Wright aims to make his mark against Arundel with Coppell intending to play every member of the first team squad.
Wilson-Denis, 20, said: "This is a make or break week for me. I am desperate to do well and hope I can show what I can do at Arundel. I'm certainly up for it.
"I came three weeks ago halfway through the week and the manager was off last week. Hopefully he has liked what he has seen at training since. We've mixed it up a bit in practice games and I've enjoyed it."
With the future of Bobby Zamora uncertain, Coppell has cast a keen eye on the youngster who scored six goals in nine games for Mullingar in the Republic of Ireland Under-21s League last season after a spell with non-league Kingstonian.
Coppell said: "I'll make a decision on Carl by the end of this week.
"My first impressions are that he is good raw material with raw being the operative word. He hasn't got an extensive pro background but I'm not saying that is a massive disability, sometimes that naivety is refreshing and a real plus like it was with Ian Wright (when Coppell managed him at Crystal Palace)."
Ace striker Zamora returned for pre-season training yesterday but will not play any part in either the Arundel or Saturday's second friendly at Crawley. He was allowed to return late after playing for England under-21s following the end of last season.
Albion scholar Darren Budd has suffered a setback after an eight-month battle to fully recover from a broken leg.
The midfielder has damaged the plate on the fibia he fractured in training and it will sideline him for six weeks.
