Gus at The Grand (From The Argus)

Gus at The Grand

2:56pm Tuesday 10th November 2009

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2.50pm: You join me as the Sussex, and indeed national, media ranks gather amid the oak panelled walls at The Grand. We await the official presentation of Gustavo Poyet, Albion's third manager since February. Remember we will going pretty big on this in The Argus tomorrow so look out for us on the news stands in the morning.

3pm: I should say they have done us proud at The Grand this time. We were in a grim back room when Martin Hinshelwood was presented in 2002 while Albion went in house at the Withdean hospitality suite for Micky Adams' return. Russell Slade did his stuff out on the training pitch when he arrived, getting mud on his expensive shoes. Let's see if the impressive surroundings are a sign of things to come.

3.08pm: Well, we will obviously be running a few minutes late. Looking around the room, club president Dick Knight has just arrived. I would imagine Poyet has seen bigger media entourages than this down the years but we're looking forward to hearing what he has to say.

3.12pm: I understand the new assistant boss Mauricio Taricco will not be here this afternoon. One of the five chairs at the top table has just been removed.

3.18pm: Here we go. Gus Poyet strolls into this ad-hoc press room here at The Grand and on to the Albion rollercoaster. Will he be the club's last manager at Withdean?

3.22pm: No pre-amble here. We launched straight into the questions and my colleague Andy Naylor asked Poyet: "Why Brighton and why now?" Poyet said he is convinced he is ready to manage now though it was a good decision to be an assistant first and learn the ropes. He said: "I want to make my team play my way."

3.25pm: The top table also comprises Ken Brown, Martin Perry and a rather pleased looking Tony Bloom.

3.27pm: The chairman has just told us he had to sort through a lot of very good applicants for the job but he was told by many contacts of Poyet's coaching skills.

3.29pm: "It's a difficult start but when people asked me if I missed football, I said I only missed the big games," said Poyet of the forthcoming fixtures.

3.32pm: Poyet has just been asked about Albion's defensive woes to smiles all round. "It already looks like everybody knows what the problem is," Poyet said. He promised work on the training ground with Taricco having a role to play, then added: "But football is a game to enjoy and if you only defend you don't enjoy it."

3.35pm: If you want to welcome Poyet to the club, it definitely sounded from one of his earlier answers that he will be at the reserves tonight. I'll confirm that for you if I can.

3.38pm: Tony Millard has just told Poyet he is Albion's first foreign manager. He replied: "I didn't know that, I'm very proud. I hope I'm not the shortest-lived manager as well!" The new boss seems to be enjoying this.

3.43: The talk then turned briefly to poker. "I don't play," said Poyet. "Especially against the chairman!"

3.45pm: The main part of the press conference ends. I can confirm Poyet will be at the reserve game tonight. We now go on to one-to-one interviews plus the obligatory pictures on the seafront. I hope someone brought a club scarf or shirt with them! That is it from me but look out for a lot more on the new boss and his plans both online and in The Argus tomorrow - not an edition to miss, I'd suggest.

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