FORMER Albion director David Bellotti is a front-runner for a New Year honour or peerage.

The former Eastbourne MP, who became a target for the club's fans after the shock sale of the Goldstone Ground, is thought to have been nominated by Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.

Hove Labour MP Ivor Caplin has now taken the unusual step of releasing a private letter to Mr Kennedy expressing his concern at the reports.

The news has stunned Albion fans who fought a bitter two-year campaign against Mr Bellotti, one of three men who sold the club's ground to developers Chartwell.

The £7.4 million sale, exposed by the Argus in 1995, led to Albion playing 'home' matches at Gillingham for two seasons while the Goldstone became a retail park.

And the fans' fury was heightened when we revealed Chartwell had sold the site to Abbey Life Assurance for £23.86 million only two years later.

Mr Caplin has written to Mr Kennedy, saying an honour for Mr Bellotti would be "a real kick in the teeth" for Albion fans and others.

Mr Caplin said Mr Kennedy has not responded to the letter, which was delivered to him on December 13.

A spokeswoman at the Lib Dems' London headquarters would only say: "I have not heard the rumours."

Albion fan John Baine, who helped lead the campaign against Mr Bellotti, said: "When I heard, I couldn't believe the Lib Dems could be so stupid. It will cost them votes if it's true."

Norman Baker, the Lib Dem MP for Lewes, said he had no knowledge of any nomination.

Mr Bellotti was the Lib Dem MP for

Eastbourne from 1990 to 1992, winning the seat in a by-election, but losing it at

the next general election.

In the wake of the fans' campaign, he lost his seat on East Sussex County Council in 1997.

Branded David Baloney by fans after a series of public relations gaffes, he was ousted as Albion chief executive in September 1997 when Dick Knight's consortium took over the club.

Mr Bellotti, who failed to be elected in this year's European Parliament elections, has been working as a consultant for Gillingham Football Club.

He said last night: "I am not making a comment, but if such a letter has gone out, Mr Caplin has not had the decency to copy it to me."

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