Albion chairman Dick Knight has already been contacted by "big names" interested in the manager's job.

And he has cemented Peter Taylor's claims as a top candidate by declaring he wants Micky Adams' successor to "bring on youth".

Knight has been inundated with calls since Adams quit on Wednesday to become Dave Bassett's No. 2 at Leicester.

"The sort of big names who have already beaten a path to my door in the last 24 hours is a reflection on the progress we have made in the last few years," Knight said.

Knight, speaking on Albion's official club phoneline, added: "I am looking for a manager who wants to bring on youth. I think football clubs in England today have a responsibility to ensure that we give young players a chance."

The Argus exclusively revealed yesterday that former Leicester boss Taylor is the early frontrunner.

Essex-based Taylor picked a young side and handed David Beckham the captaincy when he took caretaker charge of the England team against Italy in Turin last November.

He helped out with coaching yesterday at Third Division Southend, another of his former clubs, but that is regarded as a no-strings-attached arrangement.

He is not thought to be interested in a second stint at the helm at Roots Hall following Dave Webb's departure earlier this week.

A bigger obstacle is that Taylor is still in the process of sorting out compensation with Leicester, who sacked him at the end of last month.

Albion would ideally like the new man in place before the next home game against table-topping Oldham on Saturday week, but Knight is prepared to wait to land the right man.

Meanwhile, the Seagulls attempt to continue an amazing record of bouncing back in the face of adversity in their first match without Adams at Huddersfield tomorrow.

Assistant Bob Booker is in charge for the testing trip to the McAlpine Stadium after last Friday's rare home setback against Brentford.

Each of the Seagulls' seven previous League defeats over the past year since Booker joined the club have been immediately followed by a win.

Booker said: "I am looking forward to the challenge and getting on with the job in hand. The players have got themselves into a great position and I am sure they will want that to continue."

Director of youth Martin Hinshelwood is helping Booker out, which could be a lucky omen. His last involvement in a caretaker capacity was immediately prior to Adams' appointment two and a half years ago, when Albion had a 2-1 win away to Plymouth.

"It would have been a difficult game if the gaffer had still been here and we mustn't lose sight of that fact," said Hinshelwood. "I am sure the players and the staff will be up for it."

Influential centre half Danny Cullip has recovered from a recurrence of ankle ligament irritation.

Albion Bounce Back October 2000: Chesterfield (a) 0-1, Plymouth (h) 2-0 December 2000: Mansfield (a) 0-2, Exeter (h) 2-0 January 2001: Southend (h) 0-2, Kidderminster (a) 2-0 January 2001: Exeter (a) 0-1, Torquay (a) 1-0 February 2001: Cheltenham (a) 1-3, Blackpool (h) 1-0 March 2001: Scunthorpe (a) 1-2, Hull (h) 3-0 August 2001: Northampton (a) 0-2, QPR (h) 2-1 October 2001: Brentford (h) 1-2, Huddersfield (a) ??