The public gallery at Hove Town Hall is still something of an outpost for those Albion supporters who are rapidly making it a home from home.

The Seagulls faithful are there complete with scarves, cuddly mascots and packed lunches - although the latter must be eaten in complete silence lest the rustling of a rogue spam and pickle sandwich disrupts the essential business of the public inquiry.

However, there was not room to swing a cat up there, let alone make free with the lunchboxes, after numbers swelled for Des Lynam's appearance to speak in favour of the stadium proposals.

Mind you, I deemed it wise to keep a very low profile following my only previous encounter with the legendary Mr Lynam.

An encounter which came, appropriately enough, at the end of the Albion's Evening of Legends a couple of years ago when, flushed with emotion, and not a little champagne, I was part of a small group (which included Andy Crosby's wife) who descended on Our Des in order to pay him fulsome, if rather incoherent, homage. It was a measure of his professionalism that he received this homage very graciously and even posed for photographs.

Although, with more than a little shame, I remember that, despite his kind words, the look in his eyes carried a quite different message. A message that included the words "drunks," "lunatics", "got to get out of here" and "where's my taxi got to?"

I guess that moments like this come with celebrity but Des wears his status gracefully and is a genuine Albion supporter. And while the inspector, who can be guaranteed to behave with a deal more dignity than we did in Mr Lynam's presence, can't base his decision solely on the eloquent case Des presented on our behalf, he must surely recognise that Brighton and Hove Albion supporters are in a class of their own.

As, of course, are the opposition spokespersons and it would be unfair not to give them a mention even if only to see just how they might line up against the stadium's supporters which, in addition to Des, include the Football Foundation and David Davies, the acting chief executive of the Football Association.

A study of the public inquiry programme reveals that the case against the stadium will be passionately argued by a diverse collection of objectors. All of them, before I'm accused of riding roughshod over democracy in order to pull a cheap journalistic trick, entitled to hold their views and express them publicly. Which is just as it should be! However, with the exception of the MP who represents Lewes and whose enjoyment of public performance can be judged by him holding the parliamentary record for asking the most questions in a single session and some genuinely worthy academics, the stars shine a little less brightly in the opposition corner. The local publican, a woman from Rodmell who runs a tourist taxi business and the chairman of Rottingdean Parish Council, may, of course, play starring roles in their own worlds but I'm inclined to rest my case so far as this line of comparison is concerned.

Outside Hove Town Hall life goes on. Despite a defeat at Gillingham last Saturday, Steve Coppell is playing a starring role in the battle against relegation. There's been much muttering about whether Steve's services can be secured in the longer term so it was interesting to read an update on the matter which was issued by the club together with their invitation to renew our season tickets.

Steve, we were told, was not someone prepared to be "pushed into things" and, while I'd like to see him sign a new contract tomorrow, I reckon this is an admirable quality. We don't need any more hasty decisions of the Taylor-made variety.

Roz South edits Brighton Rockz fanzine. Email roz@southspark.co.uk