Albion keeper Michel Kuipers admitted today he would be prepared to join Third Division promotion favourites Hull if it meant regular first team football.

Kuipers does not want to go but says he cannot afford to be sitting on the bench at this stage of his career.

The Argus revealed yesterday that former Seagulls chief Peter Taylor wants to re-sign Kuipers for Hull.

The 29-year-old Dutchman said: "I am just waiting to see what happens between the two clubs. Our manager (Mark McGhee) is still talking with Peter Taylor about the whole set up of the deal.

"At this moment in time it is important for me to play first team football.

"Over the last three and a half years I have enjoyed playing for Brighton, but we have two goalkeepers and it doesn't look as if I am going to be playing in the first team.

"Although I love being at Brighton I have to think about developing my career. If I have to go somewhere else to do that it would be a real shame, but I might have to do it."

McGhee has installed Ben Roberts as his No. 1. The former Charlton custodian replaced Kuipers for last Saturday's 4-1 home defeat by Bristol City.

McGhee has already confirmed Roberts will be between the posts again at Notts County on Saturday and "will be given a chance to prove he is the one."

But McGhee will only sell Kuipers if the fee is enough to enhance his team rebuilding plans.

Kuipers, who was reunited with Taylor earlier in the season during a loan spell at Hull, has a three-year contract with the Seagulls which does not expire until the summer of 2005.

"When I went to Hull the set-up was very good," he said. "They have got a good manager, stadium and training facilities.

"This scenario has not arisen because I want to leave Brighton. The supporters are brilliant, you couldn't wish for anything better, but the situation has arisen that I am not going to be playing.

"We will have to see how it develops and in the meantime I'm just carrying on as normal. I came in yesterday and trained hard, trying to improve my game. That is all I can do."

Taylor has two experienced keepers at Hull but is not happy with either of them.

He dropped Paul Musselwhite and recalled Alan Fettis on Saturday but then blamed him for one of the goals in the Tigers' 3-1 defeat at Huddersfield.