Adam Hinshelwood insists he bears no grudges after being shown the door by Albion.
The defender was one of 14 players to be released by manager Russell Slade despite appearing to have finally won his long-term battle with injury.
He made 16 appearances for the Seagulls last year after fighting back from four knee operations and hoped he had done enough to persuade Slade to offer him a new deal.
There was no room for sentiment in Slade’s ruthless clearout, though, but Hinshelwood admits he could not blame the manager for letting him go.
Hinshelwood said: “It was a tough decision for the gaffer to make. He had only been at the club for eight weeks and I only played two games under him.
“I have a lot of time for Russell Slade and I am sure he will make a success of the club so there are no sour grapes from me, especially as the club has been so good to me over the years “I had heard a few of the players up before me had been released so I was prepared for the worst. I think it is always in the back of your mind but until it actually happens you are not fully expecting it.
“It is a bit wierd I managed to get deals when I’ve been injured and now I am back fit I get released. That is the strange thing but these things happen in football.
“You’ve got to be philosophical and it has just made me more determined to prove people wrong. I have been at the club since I was 15 so it is tough to say goodbye but there is life after Brighton.”
Hinshelwood faces the prospect of trying to find a new club willing to take a gamble on someone who has managed to play just 37 League games in the last four years.
The defender had just been called into the England under-21 set up when he damaged the cruciate ligaments in his right knee for the first time in March 2005. Many players would have thrown in the towel after suffering three similar injuries but Hinshelwood is determined all his hard work will not be in vain.
He added: “Of course I’m disappointed but it might open a few new doors for me. Hopefully there is some mug out there willing to take a punt on me!
“I definitely want to stay in League football. That is what all the hard work in the past few years has been about and I am not about to give up on it now.
“If I had been released this time last year when I was injured it would have been really tough but at least now I am fit and have played enough games to prove my knee is okay.
“I will let it sink in first and then think about what to do next.
“I’ve recently got married and have got three kids so it is a bit of a worrying time but I’ve got to stay positive.
“There are bills which have got to be paid and my eldest son is due to start school in September so I want to be settled somewhere by then.”
The defender was one of 14 players to be released by manager Russell Slade despite appearing to have finally won his long-term battle with injury.
He made 16 appearances for the Seagulls last year after fighting back from four knee operations and hoped he had done enough to persuade Slade to offer him a new deal.
There was no room for sentiment in Slade’s ruthless clearout, though, but Hinshelwood admits he could not blame the manager for letting him go.
Hinshelwood said: “It was a tough decision for the gaffer to make. He had only been at the club for eight weeks and I only played two games under him.
“I have a lot of time for Russell Slade and I am sure he will make a success of the club so there are no sour grapes from me, especially as the club has been so good to me over the years “I had heard a few of the players up before me had been released so I was prepared for the worst. I think it is always in the back of your mind but until it actually happens you are not fully expecting it.
“It is a bit wierd I managed to get deals when I’ve been injured and now I am back fit I get released. That is the strange thing but these things happen in football.
“You’ve got to be philosophical and it has just made me more determined to prove people wrong. I have been at the club since I was 15 so it is tough to say goodbye but there is life after Brighton.”
Hinshelwood faces the prospect of trying to find a new club willing to take a gamble on someone who has managed to play just 37 League games in the last four years.
The defender had just been called into the England under-21 set up when he damaged the cruciate ligaments in his right knee for the first time in March 2005. Many players would have thrown in the towel after suffering three similar injuries but Hinshelwood is determined all his hard work will not be in vain.
He added: “Of course I’m disappointed but it might open a few new doors for me. Hopefully there is some mug out there willing to take a punt on me!
“I definitely want to stay in League football. That is what all the hard work in the past few years has been about and I am not about to give up on it now.
“If I had been released this time last year when I was injured it would have been really tough but at least now I am fit and have played enough games to prove my knee is okay.
“I will let it sink in first and then think about what to do next.
“I’ve recently got married and have got three kids so it is a bit of a worrying time but I’ve got to stay positive.
“There are bills which have got to be paid and my eldest son is due to start school in September so I want to be settled somewhere by then.”
