For those who want Dick out

[El Presidente]

Remember how bad things REALLY were...

In the week leading up to Albion's Falmer stadium decision, chairman Dick Knight was in Finsbury Park playing football with his Arsenal-crazy grandsons.

"It was a wonderful moment for me when I saw on the horizon the shape of the new Arsenal stadium," he said.

"I told the boys ëwe're going to have a stadium like that one day and they said: ëyes grandad, I'm sure you'll make sure we get it'."

A few days later, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott delivered his long-awaited ëYes' verdict.

So ended another chapter in Knight's extraordinary Albion adventure story, which has alongside him on the opening page the man responsible for producing the next generation of stars for Arsenal's new home.

The Seagulls' next match in the Championship, against traditional adversaries Crystal Palace at Withdean a week on Sunday, marks the tenth anniversary of Liam Brady's exit as Albion manager.

His departure by mutual consent launched the chain of events which brought Knight to the forefront of the club's fight for survival.

It became apparent to Brady during his two-year reign that Albion were heading for disaster under then chairman Bill Archer, chief executive David Bellotti and owner Greg Stanley.

The Goldstone had been sold behind Brady's back and the Seagulls were lurching towards a slow and painful death.

The Arsenal and Republic of Ireland legend knew something had to be done, so he sought help in putting together a takeover consortium.

Hotelier John Keehan had been raising money on Brady's behalf for Albion's youth scheme, starved of funds by the Archer regime.

"John helped me raise money when we didn't even have insurance for the club mini-bus," Brady recalled. "We were doing a few fund-raisers with John, dog nights and things like that.

"When I got to realise what was happening with Archer, Stanley and Bellotti, John mentioned his brother-in-law (Dick) was a big Albion supporter and might be a person I should talk to."

Once Brady stepped aside to accept an irresistible offer from Arsenal to head the youth development programme at his old club, it was Knight who emerged as the public face of the consortium. The rest, as they say, is history.

Brady believes Albion could have been history but for the cussed supporter he had by his side.

"I dread to think what would have happened," he said. "It was only Dick and I and his partner Bob Pinnock. We were three very lonely people.

"There weren't many prepared to help. Nobody from the old guard, they all took their money and ran. It was new people with new ideas that did the trick.

"Dick had the interests of the club at heart and has demonstrated that ever since he has been chairman.

"He's probably had the club at the worst possible time and done the best possible job anyone could have. To keep the club alive in the circumstances is remarkable.

"He has great personality and ideas and people are happy to trust him. He's a very successful businessman, very bright, and he has done a remarkable job with the help of a lot of people.

"He's made inroads with the FA and Football League. Now I'm glad he has got the satisfaction of winning a site for the stadium."

Brady has never lost touch with the Albion saga. He still lives in Hove and has admired from close quarters the way Knight has steered the club back to Brighton, up the divisions and towards a new ground.

"Dick has never shied from the battle. Even with all the obstacles that have been put in his way he has always found a solution where a lesser man would have gone under.

"There has never been a dull moment, promotion or relegation, managers coming and going.

"It demonstrates the cut of the man and the style of the guy that he has helped enormously the careers of people like Micky Adams, Steve Coppell and Peter Taylor and they have been prepared to help back.

"The journey has been a long one and there is still a bit to go yet. Hopefully now people who see football as an investment, and in particular the stadium site, will back Dick financially to really secure the club's future.

"I have no doubt that, with his stewardship and that financial clout, Brighton will eventually be pushing to be back with the big boys.

"It might be a yo-yo ride, like Norwich and Ipswich, but they will certainly be capable of that. There is no reason why they cannot become another Charlton, particularly with Dick at the helm."

 

[Da Man Clay]

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I have always had full faith in Dick and it makes me angry when people on here demand that he step aside to make way for someone with more money.

He has been very sensible in playing within our budget to secure our long term future, you only have to look at other clubs in our division with millions of £s worth of debt. With our new stadium even the mortgage is manageable.

The futures bright. The futures Blue and White

 

[Curious Orange]

It is easy to forget the part that Liam Brady played in getting rid of the scum who used to run our club. I hope he takes the time to visit us at Falmer when it opens, I'm sure he'd get a good reception.

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

"Nobody from the old guard, they all took their money and ran"

How many of them have come crawling back I wonder?

Reading that article really hammered home just how far we have progressed both on & off the pitch since 97. Considering the only options available to us in 97 were A)oblivion or B)Dick Knight, i'd say we haven't done too badly with option B.

Still, give it a couple of months and the Knight detractors will be back to their best (after McGhee goes of course).

 

[Easy 10]

Just reinforces how fortunate we were that DIck Knight stepped in when he did. Its no exaggeration to say that the fella almost single-handedly saved this club from extinction, and with the help of Mr Perry, have finally managed to give the Albion a bright future.

They should both be given the Freedom of the City.

 

[John Dorian]

Dick Knight has had a massive hand in saving this club, so its preposterous for anyone to even think of wanting him out. After his successes he deserves to be able to watch his team run out at Falmer- As Chairman.

He is a LEGEND

 

[enigma]

Just reinforces how fortunate we were that DIck Knight stepped in when he did. Its no exaggeration to say that the fella almost single-handedly saved this club from extinction, and with the help of Mr Perry, have finally managed to give the Albion a bright future.

They should both be given the Freedom of the City.

Agree wholeheartedly. Dick Knight made sure that my generation and in particular those below me would not only have a club to support but one that would actually play in their home town. For that, I can't thank him enough. The man is an absolute hero.

 

[Harold]

Read that this morning. Nice comment about the old guard running away with their money I thought. It's often forgotten just how many men had their investments paid back by Archer as a result of the secret meeting held to amalgamate the shares. They could have thrown their lot (and returned money in) in with the emerging consortium at any point, yet didn't, happy to get out of the situation and unexpectedly get their investments back intact. In fact one man, even after being paid back, was still kicking around the place when Archer and Bellotti were doing their worst. Ray Bloom was at one of the meetings we had with the duo at the time, he was telling the assembled fans reps how great everything was going to be. He left the boardroom and was promptly mocked by Archer as 'not having a pot to p*ss in'.

The 'old guard' must look at the state of the club now in utter astonishment.

As for Liam. A great man whom we owe a great debt.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I don't believe any true fan really wants him out. I would rather have someone fully committed to the cause, as he has proved over the last 10 years, than someone who may have a bit of money but not the best interests in the club at heart. Keep the faith.

 

[enigma]

Who were the old guard that invested, just out of curiosity?

 

[El Presidente]

The claim that there are 'investors' who are now queueing up to put money into the club now that Falmer has been approved is hogwash.

It is put about by fly by night nobodies and wannabes who want their face on the front of the Argus for 24 hours.

Ardiles and Maradonna anyone?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Read that this morning. Nice comment about the old guard running away with their money I thought. It's often forgotten just how many men had their investments paid back by Archer as a result of the secret meeting held to amalgamate the shares. They could have thrown their lot (and returned money in) in with the emerging consortium at any point, yet didn't, happy to get out of the situation and unexpectedly get their investments back intact. In fact one man, even after being paid back, was still kicking around the place when Archer and Bellotti were doing their worst. Ray Bloom was at one of the meetings we had with the duo at the time, he was telling the assembled fans reps how great everything was going to be. He left the boardroom and was promptly mocked by Archer as 'not having a pot to p*ss in'.

The 'old guard' must look at the state of the club now in utter astonishment.

As for Liam. A great man whom we owe a great debt.

Did Ray Bloom really reassure the fans reps? How is that possible? I thought he was one of the old guard that quit out of principle.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Did Ray Bloom really reassure the fans reps? How is that possible? I thought he was one of the old guard that quit out of principle.

Bloom was the only one that stayed (think he liked free tickets!!). Eventually he went, only to reappear on the new board in about 1999.

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

Didn't Ray Bloom come back to the club in 1998/99? Seem to remember there was a bit of controversy about him making a reappearance at the time. He tried to put about the idea that, whilst it may have appeared to the untrained eye that he was colluding with A + B, he was actually fighting them from the inside. Same kind of arguments that people who worked for the Nazi's used after WW2.

It is amazing that Liam Brady got so involved with trying to save the Albion. I mean, he was only here for about two years wasn't he? Most of that time he (one of the finest players to emerge from the British Isles in the last 30 years) was treated like shit by the characters in charge. Having to ask the fans to help pay for a minibus, having a budget that was slightly less than sod all and then having the ground sold without being told a thing. Yet he must have developed such strong feelings for us over those two years that he helped develop a rescue package knowing that he was going to get nowt out of it. What a man.

 

[The Auditor]

As for Liam. A great man whom we owe a great debt.

Without Mr Brady there would be no Albion today ..this must never be forgotten

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Bloom did well for himself selling off GoodBean Coffee Shops.

Perhaps a bar should be named after Liam Brady in the new ground.

The Brady Bar

 

[enigma]

Bloom did well for himself selling off GoodBean Coffee Shops.

Perhaps a bar should be named after Liam Brady in the new ground.

The Brady Bar

We should definitely do something.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

It is amazing that Liam Brady got so involved with trying to save the Albion. I mean, he was only here for about two years wasn't he? Most of that time he (one of the finest players to emerge from the British Isles in the last 30 years) was treated like shit by the characters in charge. Having to ask the fans to help pay for a minibus, having a budget that was slightly less than sod all and then having the ground sold without being told a thing. Yet he must have developed such strong feelings for us over those two years that he helped develop a rescue package knowing that he was going to get nowt out of it. What a man.

Totally agree with that. It would be nice to acknowledge him in some way at Falmer.

 

[Uncle Buck]

It is amazing that Liam Brady got so involved with trying to save the Albion. I mean, he was only here for about two years wasn't he? Most of that time he (one of the finest players to emerge from the British Isles in the last 30 years) was treated like shit by the characters in charge.

Bearing in mind Irish are getting the hump on the thread about the GB Team, probably best not to say that Brady came from the British Isles, you will only set the super cyber geek off on a rant about the Emerald Isle not being the British Isle, then the other know it all will chuck facts in and it will get generally a bit too much.