It is seven weeks since Peter Taylor decided he did not want to be part of Albion's future and the silence is still deafening.

The painstaking search for Taylor's successor has yet to reach a conclusion.

The Seagulls are happy to bide their time to land the right man. After five managers in as many years chairman Dick Knight is determined to appoint somebody committed to the long-term prosperity of the club, rather than regarding it as a stepping stone.

Chief executive Martin Perry said: "We have a number of options which we are now mulling over. We want to get on with it, but it's a vital decision and we don't want to get it wrong.

"There has been as much interest as there was the last time. Some good candidates have put their names forward."

Taylor was an obvious selection to replace Leicester-bound Micky Adams last October.

Strange as it seems after consecutive championship triumphs, the job may not be that appealing at this tricky period in Albion's history to the kind of contender Knight probably has in mind.

In an ideal world Knight would want a 'name' with a passionate streak. One of the reasons Steve Gritt was sacked months after rescuing the Seagulls from non-League oblivion was a perception among the hierarchy at the time that he was too reserved for a club keen to promote a trendy image.

A 'name' manager might feel he has a lot to lose. It will be much tougher in the First Division, bearing in mind the jump in quality of opponents and the relatively low budget arising from the financial limitations of Withdean which was responsible for Taylor's resignation.

The realistic short-term goal is to remain in Division One until such time as Albion move into their new stadium at Falmer. That would not be sufficient to satisfy some big egos.

The criteria are much the same as prior to Taylor's appointment.

Knight is looking for someone with experience and a track record of success, willing to develop young players and work with the excellent backroom team already in place.

The latter, though honourable in its intentions, has also acted as a dissuading factor.

I understand at least one leading candidate has ruled himself out because he cannot bring in his own men to work alongside him.

Managers generally like to be surrounded by people they know. The more inclined they are to accept the imposition of a backroom team then arguably the less likely they are to be around for the long haul.

It would be devilishly difficult for Knight to find someone fitting his identikit of a manager in every single way.

I wrote shortly after Taylor's departure that Steve Coppell would top my list and nothing has happened since to change that opinion.

The one respect in which Coppell does not fit Knight's bill is that he is Gritt-like in character.

The only other contender known to have met Knight is ex-Wimbledon boss Terry Burton, but that was some time ago and he is possibly thought to be too low-profile.

Poaching somebody else's manager is a potentially expensive exercise. Perry says Albion have not approached any other clubs, which rules out the likes of Danny Wilson.

Knight could have someone lined up who has not even been mentioned in the weeks since Taylor left. Someone, for example, like Nigel Spackman.

The former Liverpool, Rangers and Chelsea midfielder has managed in the First Division at Sheffield United and Barnsley.

Nobody predicted Liam Brady's Albion arrival almost a decade ago, apart that is from an elderly lady in Worthing who put his name forward on a phoneline run by The Argus because she liked the look of him!

Knight still values Brady's view. Bearing in mind his Arsenal connections it is interesting that Brady favours an internal appointment more than Burton or Graham Rix, who you suspect would come with too much baggage for the chairman's liking.

The chances of Knight turning to Martin Hinshelwood, Albion's director of youth, are increasing with every passing day.

Hinshelwood, 49 this Sunday and Barry Lloyd's former lieutenant, would certainly promote the cause of Albion's promising youngsters.

He also boasts an unbeaten nine-year record as a manager, all be it over the course of a total of just three games as a caretaker.

The Hinshelwood-Bob Booker partnership worked well for a couple of matches before Taylor's appointment and Hinshelwood possesses the experience which Knight feels Booker lacks to make the transition from No.2 to No. 1.

What matters more than anything to Knight this time is that the man he chooses truly has his heart in the job and shares his vision of what Albion can achieve.

It will undoubtedly be demanding in the immediate future, but the potential is boundless.

The rewards could be enormous for somebody prepared to stick around and see the bigger picture, instead of just glimpsing at the arduous route confronting them for at least the next two seasons.

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