Albion boss Gus Poyet has hinted at leaving unless he gets assurances from chairman Tony Bloom that he will have enough money to continue improving the team.

Poyet delivered his bombshell after the Seagulls' dream of promotion to the Premier League was shattered by arch-rivals Crystal Palace at The Amex.

A second half double by Manchester United-bound winger Wilfried Zaha earned Palace a 2-0 win on aggregate in their play-off semi-final showdown with the Seagulls and a Wembley date with Watford later this month.

Bloom, writing in the programme, described Albion's fourth-placed finish in the Championship as one of the best seasons in his lifetime.

Poyet told The Argus: "I've got no doubt but that finished two weeks ago. Now for me it's not.

"I know how you feel when you win but I don't know how you feel when you go down and you are the manager and responsible. I've not been in this situation but I don't like it. It's changed my view completely about everything I was prepared for, so we'll see now.

"I have always said that during the time we keep improving I am going to be at this football club and the day we hit the roof I'm not. So tomorrow morning I am going to ask if we've hit the roof and to know that I need answers and then we'll see."

"I think it's about everything. It's not like a click of the fingers and you finish in the top six every year. Financial Fair Play is coming next year. It's going to hit everybody, including us and we've got a few problems.

"This team is much better than last year's team and it is improving because of the way we finished and the way we play. But to go up we need to get better. I don't think so."

Asked by The Argus if he will be seeking assurances from Bloom, Poyet said: "Yes I will, no doubt about it. I want to get better and as a manager I want to get better as well. I don't go to places just to have a job, I go to places to put things right and to make the place better and I think I've done my job here.

"I don't think anyone is going to disagree. Is there something more? Right now I don't know, so I need to make sure that I know there is, because if not I am not going to stay forever. It doesn't matter how many years contract you have signed."

Poyet, less than halfway through a five-year contract, has consistently pointed out Albion have a budget which is lower than many other clubs in the Championship.

The Uruguayan was targeted by relegated Reading in March, when they still had a chance of staying in the Premier League, but he decided to stay.