Albion enter a new era at Withdean against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Spectators will be on all four sides of the ground for the first time since the Seagulls moved into their temporary home in August 1999.

It is not just the Palace supporters who will be switched from the east to the west end of the stadium.

So too will the players, managers, medical staff and match officials in a new changing room complex forming part of more than £700,000 worth of improvements.

The Argus has been given a sneak preview of the revised Withdean set-up, designed to create more space for Albion fans ahead of the move to Falmer in the summer of 2008.

The main new building in the north-west corner of the ground incorporates spacious dressing rooms for both teams, a treatment room for physio Malcolm Stuart, kit room and two changing rooms for the match officials.

Manager Mark McGhee has been well looked after. He has an office and a separate lounge overlooking the pitch, complete with TV and bar. Outside is a cordoned off area for disabled spectators and their helpers.

The walls of Albion's dressing room are adorned with the club crest and a sign near the main entrance proclaims Welcome to The Withdean', as former manager Micky Adams used to call it.

The players will emerge on Sunday from a tunnel in the north-west corner, with the Palace fans immediately to their right in a new block of 922 seats behind the west goal which increases the capacity to 7,932.

Albion can expect complaints from visiting supporters about the view. They have the width of the eight-lane running track and the length of the high jump area between them and the pitch, a distance of approximately 50 metres.

Access to the away seats and toilets is via turnstiles behind Withdean's west car park and the new facilities are completed by a storage room and clubhouse for the athletics clubs.

The block of 750 seats in the north-east corner, used until now for away fans, will be freed up for Albion supporters.

Phase two of the project, earmarked for the New Year, will include a new block of seats behind the east goal and extra seats in the current away area, lifting the capacity to just under 9,000.

The hospitality Portakabins behind the east goal will be replaced by a two-storey hospitality suite, on the site of the existing changing rooms in the north-east corner of the stadium.

The creche, which is used as a lounge for players and directors, will also be upgraded.

Albion have received funding assistance from the Football Foundation and through the expansion of the study support centre, which will benefit from the new facilities on non-match days.

Chief executive Martin Perry said: "Out of all the matches we have played at home this season, only three have not completely sold out and they were only just under capacity.

"The improvements increase the opportunity for home supporters to see Albion play. People will realise now that it is possible to get a ticket at Withdean."