Peter Taylor revealed that Albion's legendary support was one of the things that attracted him to the club.

The passion, commitment and determination exercised by the fans of the club played a big part in the Albion staying in existence.

So therefore it beggars belief that from within that fan base there are people prepared to take the time and effort to send Micky Adams hate mail.

In fact to call these individuals Albion fans is actually an insult to everyone else who follows the club.

I spoke to Micky on the phone last Thursday and he was genuinely upset. To be honest I was shocked, I realised a very small minority were miffed at his departure to Filbert Street but I never dreamt that we would have people in and around the family that is the Albion prepared to send this poison through the post.

Mental is probably the best adjective I could come up with to describe these alleged supporters. Micky Adams arrived in 1999 at a cash-strapped club exiled and, with the greatest respect to Dick Knight who once again has come up trumps, left two and a half years later with a trophy in the cabinet and a side knocking on the door of division one.

What do some fans want, the Champions League?

Contractual conditions with BBC dictate that I could never incite or attempt to affect the result of any postal vote but Id like to point out to all Albion fans that its that time of the year for the BBC South Sports Personality of the Year.

Two years ago Alan Ball won it by a country mile after Pompey managed to avoid relegation for the umpteenth time. What a fitting tribute it would be for Micky if he were to top the postal ballot when the result is announced next month.

Like I said, I can't be seen to be cajoling people into voting but watch South Today or check Ceefax page 390.

This never-ending Crystal Palace rivalry is a curious thing. Like all true Seagulls I hate Palace as much as the next man, but it didn't stop me welcoming Neil Smillie to the Goldstone nearly 20 years ago or acknowledging that Martin Hinshelwood is one of the nicest people I have ever met connected with the Albion.

Now Peter Taylor has come to town, or should that be City? And I'm ecstatic.

He is one of Selhurst's favourite sons, one of the stars of that legendary FA Cup run of 1976, but all the recollections of Big Mal, the fedora, fat cigars and Romark the hypnotist are dim and distant memories. Peter is now potentially an Albion legend in the making and not for the first time Crystal Palace are history.

Reports that local yobs have turned the Goldstone Retail Park into a no go area for shoppers highlight a serious problem this society has with some of our youth.

I could never condone any such behaviour whatever the circumstances but the words I think I'm looking for on this occasion are poetic justice. Just think if it really does become a no go area all the shops will close down, perhaps they might consider building a football ground on the derelict site?

ONLY 800 people bothered to turn up to see Fraudley, sorry Audley, Harrison's third professional contest at one of Scotland's premier boxing venues, the Kelvin Hall. Another forgettable performance ensued against a Polish fighter whose last contest in this country lasted all of 14 seconds.

What next for our Olympic golden boy? Whatever he has in mind if the current trend with the punters continues within 12 months he'll have to start paying people to turn up and watch him, but bearing in mind Greg Dyke has given him £1,000,000 of licence payers money that might be not that much of a problem.