ALBION fans have been urged to back David Stockdale in his contract decision – wherever he ends up.

Senior professional Liam Rosenior says the free-agent goalkeeper must make the best decision for himself and his family.

But he accepts Seagulls fans could find that hard to take.

Rosenior has also given some insight into the delight among the squad when they heard out-of-contract Dale Stephens had signed a new four-year deal.

Albion are piecing together their Premier League squad and The Argus reported last week that Stockdale and his representatives rejected an initial new contract offer.

The keeper, voted the best in the Championship by fellow professionals, still has an offer on the table, along with Steve Sidwell, Niki Maenpaa and Gaetan Bong.

Manager Chris Hughton hopes all four stay but posts by Stockdale on social media have been interpreted as hints he could leave.

Rosenior said: “When your contract runs down you are a free agent and you have to do the best for yourself and for your family.

“It is hard sometimes for supporters to understand that.

“You see a player play with passion for a club and then, next thing, he has gone.

“But the average playing career is not long, you have to maximise it.

“I hope and pray David stays with us because he has shown us what a fantastic goalkeeper he is.

“But, if he doesn’t, he will move on and we will move on and I wish him and his family all the best. He is a fantastic lad.”

Albion have snapped up German playmaker Pascal Gross on a deal believed to be worth about £3 million but Rosenior reckons the new contract for his potential midfield sidekick Stephens trumps that.

He added: “Pascal looks like he has got a fantastic pedigree.

“But I think the biggest thing we have done so far is re-sign Dale.

“We were together as a squad when we found out and it gave us a huge lift in an already great time.

“We know how important Dale is to the team and the way we play.

“It shows the ambition of the club.

“Trust me, there would have been some top, top clubs looking to try and sign Dale Stephens on a free transfer.

“The fact the club were able to keep him and persuade him this is the place to be goes a long way to showing the way Brighton are heading.

“We all hoped he would stay but we didn’t want to put pressure on him as his team-mates because it is his career.”