Charlie Oatway has urged Albion to end the uncertainty over the manager's job by giving it to Bob Booker and Martin Hinshelwood.

The Seagulls' midfielder and dressing room voice has revealed the players would back the appointment of the club's assistant and director of youth.

Booker and Hinshelwood held the reins for wins at Huddersfield and Swansea last October in-between Micky Adams' move to Leicester and Peter Taylor's arrival.

"The boys would be very happy with Bob and Hinsh taking it," Oatway said. "It's better the devil you know.

"They get on well with the players and I think it would be a great move for us all."

Taylor quit 66 days ago after steering Albion to the Second Division title and he has still not been replaced.

Booker, Hinshelwood, reserve coach Dean White and youth coach Dean Wilkins were in charge yesterday when ex-captain Oatway and the rest of the players reported back for pre-season training.

"I've never had a situation where there is no manager to start pre-season off and certainly not when we've had two such successful years," Oatway said.

"What I have heard, not what I know, is that the budget is playing a big part and some candidates are scared of that, but we have a good bunch of lads here and it's a good job for anyone to take over.

"It has a bearing on us a little bit, because we don't know what is going on. Obviously we would like to know who is coming in or what is happening.

"It doesn't have a bigger bearing at this moment in time, because most managers don't have much to do with pre-season.

Micky Adams was there but he left it down to Hinsh and Bob and Deano to crack on with it.

"But we want it sorted out as soon as possible. We are no different to the fans, chairman or board of directors. They want it as well, but obviously nobody has been screaming out at them."

Booker said: "It's a completely different situation to what I have ever been in, both in my playing career and on the coaching side. I've always worked under a manager, but that's not in place so we just have to continue and go to work the next day as normal."

Striker Lee Steele has completed his free transfer to Oxford United.

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