JEFF Minton is poised to quit Albion at the end of the season.

"At the moment I think it is probably 70-30 that I will leave," revealed the Seagulls' long-serving midfielder.

Minton is entitled to a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

Albion have offered him a new contract, but the pint-sized former Spurs playmaker feels his future lies elsewhere.

Manager Micky Adams said: "The club made him a good offer to stay before I got here and I've had one brief chat with him.

"Jeff may interest a few managers and I would understand if he exercises his right under the Bosman ruling.

"There is nothing we can do about that. There has got to be a wage structure put in at the club.

"If he wants to stay we will talk about it again, but he has not given any indication to the club that he wants to stay, so I can only assume he will go."

Minton has been in and out of contract throughout his five years at Albion.

He has scored nine goals this season, despite a long lay-off with an ankle injury, and has just been included by his fellow pros in their Third Division dream team.

Minton played in a 2-0 win for the Reserves against Crystal Palace last night after missing Saturday's goalless draw against Hull through suspension.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.