That is how much the club was in the red in the year ending May 1998, their first at Gillingham.

The cash-strapped Seagulls shipped a similar amount in the year ending May 1997, their last at the Goldstone.

Annual accounts filed at Companies House show that the operating loss actually fell by 24 per cent from £1,395,000 to £1,061,000, taking into consideration exceptional items of £377,000 relating to ground planning development and legal costs.

Finance director Bob Pinnock claimed the figures represent a "tremendous achievement" after gates slumped by around 60 per cent and turnover halved as a result of the controversial groundshare at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium.

Trading was helped by a 30 per cent rise in sponsorship and a 244 per cent increase in shop income.

Pinnock predicts a big fall in the operating losses this year, even though the move to Withdean will cost the club around £1.4 million.

"In this current season we have seen a sharp improvement in attendances and we have received £350,000 in compensation for Gareth Barry," he said.

"This has enabled us to increase the playing budget by 20 per cent and, despite the costs of preparing Withdean, which are likely to be in the order of £1.4 million, the Board is confident there will be a further substantial reduction in the operating losses."

Meanwhile, health farm tycoon Stephen Purdew is pursuing his bid to take control of Albion.

The Argus exclusively revealed that Purdew has offered to pump millions of pounds into the hard-up Seagulls in return for a controlling stake.

"I am still interested and I am in dialogue with the club," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.