Albion caretaker Bob Booker wants a permanent crack at the top job following Steve Coppell's exit to Reading.

Booker feels the time is right for him to make the transition from assistant to No. 1.

He said: "I am caretaker manager and if the opportunity arises I would like to put myself in the frame, but Steve has only just gone. That has affected everybody.

"It would be great to be the manager. I've worked under three who have all had success and I would just take bits from each one.

"We got promotion with Micky Adams, Peter Taylor worked for England and Steve Coppell got a team to the FA Cup final and the First Division. I would like to feel that is a good apprenticeship."

Results suffered under Martin Hinshelwood and Jeff Wood when chairman Dick Knight appointed from within previously, but Booker said: "It is a different scenario now.

"There would no doubt be loads of questions, like I am too close to the players and things like that, but that's for me to deal with. At some stage you have to cross that line."

Captain Danny Cullip, back from a calf injury for tomorrow's home game against Grimsby, said: "Bob has taken the helm and we are looking to get a result for him, because we are all 100 per cent behind him.

"He is a bubbly character and a good coach who knows football inside out. We all know what Bob's qualities are and we would be delighted if he got the job, but that is not in our hands."

Booker has vowed to keep Albion on top of the table for the sake of the club and Steve Coppell.

Coppell is under fire from fans after quitting for Reading, but caretaker Booker insists "he didn't really want to go."

The Seagulls' assistant vigorously defended his former boss at the training ground as he prepared the players for the game against Grimsby.

Asked what efforts the club had made to keep Coppell, Booker replied: "I wouldn't know."

Booker himself and the rest of the coaching staff made "every effort" to persuade Coppell to stay.

He said: "I was in close contact with the manager in the last few days and, without going into it in too much depth, it was a difficult decision for him to make.

"It wasn't taken lightly, I can assure you of that.

"He is ambitious, like anyone else. He was made a very good offer and it was hard to turn down. I understand that, but he didn't really want to go.

"He enjoyed working here, we were striking up a decent relationship and we made it quite clear we didn't want him to go.

"At the end of the day he has got to do what is right for Steve Coppell. A lot of people will be frustrated by that but it's his decision."

Booker's only concern at the moment is trying to ensure Albion beat Grimsby at Withdean tomorrow to stay ahead of the pack.

"What I need to do now is focus on Grimsby," he said. "That is what I have tried to make clear to the players. It's going to be tough. Last season we were two teams battling to stay up. They will have a point to prove and it is the same with us.

"We are top of the League and I just want to keep things going, keep the wolves away from the door and see how we go. We've been here and done it before with the players. They will be a little bit disturbed about what has gone on in the last few days, but we need to go and get a result for the club and for Steve Coppell."