The ticketing arrangements for Albion's LDV Vans Trophy game against Forest Green Rovers has opened up a can of worms.

For the uninitiated, every season ticket Albion have sold contains 23 tickets for every league match but also a free cup ticket which can used for the first home cup tie of the season.

As both games in the Carling Cup were away, the clash with Colin Addison's Conference side is the one where season ticket holders can claim their free seat.

Before the usual knockers shout me down with the predictable: "He sits in the press box so it doesn't bother him" line, my eight-year-old son is a season ticket holder and the funds to purchase his ticket came from my bank account.

A number of season ticket holders are crying foul. They feel the LDV is not a first team competition and that the cup ticket should be offered later on in the season when the FA Cup starts.

So is the LDV a legitimate competition?

I think the answer has to be yes. Granted, the earlier rounds can be used to blood youngsters and give squad players a run out, but tell me how many Albion fans won't go to the final at the Millennium Stadium if the Seagulls get there?

Talking about devalued competitions, there is an argument that a number of Premiership clubs treat the early rounds of the Carling Cup in the same manner.

Personally, as exciting as the play-offs are, I'd like the Albion to go up automatically and take the end of season matches out of the equation. A visit to the final of the LDV with Albion would have such a positive effect around Sussex.

Since the Albion left the Goldstone they have missed out on a whole lost generation of potential followers so a day out in Cardiff would re-ignite interest among the young football supporters in Sussex, the ones who can't get to Withdean and who have had to turn to the Premiership. Albion need to cultivate their fan base and appeal to the grandchildren of the 30,000 who used to pack the Goldstone. A trip to the LDV final would go a long way to doing this.

As regards the Forest Green ticketing issue, it's the luck of the draw. Had Albion drawn Boro at home last week instead of their Riverside trip would anyone have moaned? The fact that they are season ticket holders means they support the Albion, therefore this bonus fixture will actually mean an important cash windfall if the Albion get a home FA Cup draw this season. And ultimately can anyone claiming to support the club deny them that opportunity?

Stop giggling and please spare a thought for poor old Barry Hearn. Having made a fortune from snooker and boxing, Romford's favourite son moved his attentions to the beautiful game when he purchased Leyton Orient in 1996.

He set about staging a footballing revolution at Brisbane Road and promised to get the Os a shot at the Premiership.

Unfortunately, it looks like it could end up being for the Ryman Premier title.

Manager Paul Brush became the third Orient boss to be dismissed by Hearn in six years after Saturday's defeat at Huddersfield and now former Albion midfielder Martin Ling finds himself holding one of League football's poison chalices as he steps into the breach as caretaker manager.

There's no doubting Hearn is a character. Although he once wanted Albion kicked out of the League after the crazy scenes at a 4-4 Goldstone draw in 1997, I've always found him very amiable and extremely entertaining.

However, as a top promoter he has forgotten one of PT Barnum's golden rules: You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can never fool all of the people all of the time.

Leyton Orient in the Premiership?

There's more chance of Hearn managing Alex Higgins to the world snooker title in Sheffield next April.