This is a crucial time for Albion and the thousands of fans all over Sussex who support the club.

First, Albion have to find a new man who can carry on the great work of former manger Micky Adams, now moved to top club Leicester City.

Then Albion have to ensure one of the two plans they submitted for Falmer receives planning approval and that the community stadium is built as soon as possible.

Albion gained promotion last season as champions and have already been at the top of Division Two. With players such as striker Bobby Zamora, there's no reason why a second successive promotion cannot be achieved.

But a First Division club cannot survive for long in a temporary stadium such as Withdean, holding only 7,000 people and it would be out of the question were Albion to rise once again into the top flight.

Of the two applications for Village Way at Falmer, the north site is the better of the two as it is nearer the A27 and lower-lying.

But it's owned by Brighton University and in the past the two sides have not been able to reach any agreement over cash.

Now they are talking again. The university will be doing the city a big favour if it can come to terms quickly with the club.

There will almost certainly have to be a public inquiry whichever way the planners go. The club simply cannot afford a delay and dispute over the land as well.

Brighton and Hove is booming. The football club should be part of that prosperity. But it can only be so if it finds a new home at Falmer.