ALBION boss Brian Horton and his players cannot wait to come home.

No longer having to sweat about the switch to Withdean has given the Seagulls a timely boost after their stuttering start to the season.

Campaigners yesterday dropped their threat of legal action against the move, clearing the way for Albion to abandon the Gillingham groundshare and return to their roots.

Said Horton: "I'm delighted. We are in need of a bit of good news.

"I don't like getting in my car on a Saturday morning and driving to Gillingham.

"I don't know how much of an adverse effect it's had on the players because I stopped mentioning it, but the sooner we are at Withdean the better. It will give the players a big lift.

"The crowds will be double what they are at the moment and that makes a big difference. The supporters have been magnificent and we are not giving them enough back. Hopefully that will change now."

Albion captain Gary Hobson admits the players had almost resigned themselves to another full season at the Priestfield Stadium.

"This is magic," he said. "We heard the decision could keep getting put off and we were almost getting our minds set for another season at Gillingham.

"The lads will be really pleased. We are all dying to get back and to stop going to Gillingham. It's just hassle we don't want.

"It's definitely had a bearing on results. It makes a difference to your mental approach. It feels like things are stacked against you and I don't think opposing teams feel any more away from home than us.

"The crowd have been fantastic at Gillingham. They've amazed me to be honest, but coming home will make so much difference."

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