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Dean Wilkins considers his future

3:52pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Dean Wilkins is mulling over his future after being replaced as Albion manager by Micky Adams.

Wilkins has been offered the job of senior first team coach, a role he held briefly before succeeding Mark McGhee in the Seagulls hotseat 20 months ago.

Chairman Dick Knight said: "Dean is surprised and upset, which is totally understandable. He has gone away for a few days to think it over but he has already told us he is very happy to talk to Micky when he comes back."

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Joel Edmondson, Worthing says...
4:14pm Fri 9 May 08

I really really hope he stays. I think he is a quality coach and could be a real asset!

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debbie, shoreham says...
4:24pm Fri 9 May 08

I hope Dean stays he deserves to stay and more - the way he has been treated is awful - please stay and prove that stupid old idiot Knight wrong

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David, Hove says...
4:45pm Fri 9 May 08

I hope he has the guts to go, his talants will earn decent wage anywhere. Brighton do not deserve his services anymore for trating him like s**T

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Daren, london says...
4:46pm Fri 9 May 08

i hope he stays make a good team with Micky Adams treated bad .. but well happy micky back may have left but was at the march for FALMAR shows me he still had the Albion in his blood .... lets get behind micky and move on !!! SEAGULLS !

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Ben, Brighton says...
4:56pm Fri 9 May 08

Daren wrote:
i hope he stays make a good team with Micky Adams treated bad .. but well happy micky back may have left but was at the march for FALMAR shows me he still had the Albion in his blood .... lets get behind micky and move on !!! SEAGULLS !
Are you drunk?

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Eddie from Eastbourne, says...
5:04pm Fri 9 May 08

I hope that Dean stays. He has a great deal of coaching experience. But if he feels aggrieved and wants to leave I wouldn't blame him either and I wish him well whatever he decides.

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graham, derbyshire says...
5:07pm Fri 9 May 08

I'm not sure that I would like to be working on any of D.K's management teams. Although one part of me says 'good to see M.A. return, but, conducted in the way that things have been, my sympathies are with D.W.who must wonder what has happened.
Does a Football Club with the financial constraints that the Albion work under REALLY need extra layers of management? Has D.K. been taking advice from Gordon Brown?
I just hope that the players can keep out of things, go on holiday, and come back with open minds and plenty of desire to compete and win.

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Phil, in the middle says...
5:17pm Fri 9 May 08

I've been thinking about this whole matter a lot today.

I can understand that Wilkins had his shortcoming (like man management of senior players by all accounts), but looked to be developing and doing a good job overall - far better than Adams' track record of late!

In my opinion, Adams should have been made "Director of Football" with a Board position and asked to support Deano's development, with Knight stopping his medling in team matters.

Tinselhead could have been shown the door, or given a more specific title like "Head of Youth" or something.

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lucas, shoreham says...
5:21pm Fri 9 May 08

Whilst it is good to have Micky back I would rather have retained Dean for next season. The signs are that Albion would have challenged for promotion under him with a young improving team. Maybe his signings were poor but as a coach he is very good and hopefully will continue to be so.

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larry saunders, BURGESS HILL says...
5:28pm Fri 9 May 08

hope DEAN stays its a great shame he is being treated like this and all for a loser like Adams who will not last because he is a loser.

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Dan, lancing says...
5:41pm Fri 9 May 08

Knight is a knob

i hopee wilkiins leaves n gets the leicester job then thrash us twice, would serve him right!!!

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Keir, Sompting says...
5:56pm Fri 9 May 08

Thank god your back mickey. Please bring in some decent players.

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Andrew, Camberley says...
5:57pm Fri 9 May 08

Phil wrote:
I've been thinking about this whole matter a lot today.

I can understand that Wilkins had his shortcoming (like man management of senior players by all accounts), but looked to be developing and doing a good job overall - far better than Adams' track record of late!

In my opinion, Adams should have been made "Director of Football" with a Board position and asked to support Deano's development, with Knight stopping his medling in team matters.

Tinselhead could have been shown the door, or given a more specific title like "Head of Youth" or something.
Spot on - I think this is exactly right and should have been DK's action!

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Al, Brighton says...
6:07pm Fri 9 May 08

larry saunders wrote:
hope DEAN stays its a great shame he is being treated like this and all for a loser like Adams who will not last because he is a loser.
A loser? This is the bloke who got us a championship & half way to another. What has Wilkins done? It dosen't take a genius to see that Wilkins falls short as a manager. He's a very good coach but not a manager.

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Shaun, Brighton says...
6:19pm Fri 9 May 08

I hope Wilkins goes, i have never liked him as a player or a manager. I will be pleased to see the back og him. We finshed 7th in a poor league, big deal!!.

Adams is a winner all the way, unlike wendy who is a complete wimp! He tried to balme the axing of Reid and others on Knight which is pathetic!! He has no bottle.

Good job Dick, and good luck to Micky, it's fantastic that he is back!.

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john, newhaven says...
6:40pm Fri 9 May 08

Wilkins paid the price for negative tactics (11 men behind the ball) when a little bit of ambition could've got us in the play offs. The truth is the fans did not like his style of play and I dare say Mickey Addams return now will sell a few more season tickets.

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Nick, Sheffield says...
6:57pm Fri 9 May 08

Whilst it is good to see Micky back, I do feel sorry for Dean, and hope he stays. I think the two would make a great partnership, & would be challenging for an automatic spot. Not too threatened by teams coming down, the league is ours for the taking!

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never wrong dave, Brighton says...
7:18pm Fri 9 May 08

If you saw the tv tonight you got here Micky say if not me the job would have been advertised away.The club should take this chance and sack Wilkins,White and the waste of space Hinshelwood.The players have let Knight know what a bad manager Wilkins was many times.

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gully, ho says...
7:46pm Fri 9 May 08

Well from what i've heard DW was not bothered about going out and training with the lads for about the last 3 months - they were all bored to tears by white. Half of the squad are better qualified to train than White is anyway! I think dw should go and start a fresh somewhere else - he didn't mind ending those young lads Brighton careers on Monday did he? Good luck somewhere else! wasn't

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Brian Lec, Brighton says...
7:48pm Fri 9 May 08

Who knows what the real truth is. DW's achievement in getting his team to one place from the play-offs operating on a shoe-string budget was remarkable. Claim constructive dismissal and walk away Dean.

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We8. Palace, Nottingham says...
7:49pm Fri 9 May 08

You hit the nail on the head John. I think this is a lot bigger than who's the best first team manager. They need money, desperately and MA will probably, with the anticipation, will increase season ticket sales. More importantly, the board have to start to approach those sponsors that would hand over millions for the Falmer development. For that the club now have a proven manager who has won promotions before with the Albion and others and that may be the difference in the pitch to try and attract money for Falmer. I dare say it is just about the football side.

Their biggest need is not promotion, it's investment.

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King wombat, uk says...
8:16pm Fri 9 May 08

Dan wrote:
Knight is a knob

i hopee wilkiins leaves n gets the leicester job then thrash us twice, would serve him right!!!
why don't you go and support leicester then as you clearly aren't a brighton fan.

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Helen, Hurst says...
8:42pm Fri 9 May 08

Please stay Dean. I was the first to say get Micky Adams back (by text) to the fans phonein when he lost his job way back, and I'm delighted he's going to manage Brighton, but I think Dean is a great coach and he could learn so much from Adams about management. I also think he was unlucky this season. His team was decimated by Knight in the Januyary transfer window and we lost a lot of ground through no fault of his own. Don't go wilkins, Brighton needs you

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GitFace, Worthing says...
8:51pm Fri 9 May 08

What is it that so many people seem to have against Dean White?

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Benny Dorm, Spain says...
9:50pm Fri 9 May 08

debbie wrote:
I hope Dean stays he deserves to stay and more - the way he has been treated is awful - please stay and prove that stupid old idiot Knight wrong
Have the batteries on your vibrator died or are you always this unpleasant?

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Martin, Burgess Hill says...
10:36pm Fri 9 May 08

Dean has to stay! He has done so well with the team but what a fantastic partnership he and Mickey will make. Closeness to the players like Wilkins is coaching and leadership but the squad needs a strong manager and figurehead who can make the tough decisions when needed. Mickey can work on the bigger picture to achieve the promotion we desperately need whilst supporting Dean to get the very best out of the players for success. Dean will gain experience and no doubt one day become the great manager he could be. Mickey can bring in the finances the club desperately needs to move forward. Two heads better than one in this case. Keep the faith and give them your total support!!! Up the Albion!!!!!!!

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deb, sussex says...
10:51pm Fri 9 May 08

Benny Dorm wrote:
debbie wrote: I hope Dean stays he deserves to stay and more - the way he has been treated is awful - please stay and prove that stupid old idiot Knight wrong
Have the batteries on your vibrator died or are you always this unpleasant?
no i just commented like everyone else - just to get abuse back

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John, Brighton says...
12:49am Sat 10 May 08

Have to say Dean Wilkins must still be looking for his teeth that dick knight has kicked out. Think he has been treated appalingly and he should tell the club where they can shove their offer. The team had made huge progress this season and I have no doubt we would have finished top 6 next season anyway. Nice to have Micky back, but not at the expense of Dean Wilkins.

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nick, says...
7:06am Sat 10 May 08

im gutted! mickey adams will not stay loyal as always! if he has a good season and gets a better offer hell be gone...he dosent want the brighton job ..he just wants a job!!! deano is a man .!!!!

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kieran, says...
7:12am Sat 10 May 08

why do people think mickey adams is god!! deano has done a great job on no budget adams no doubt will get money to spend . run away deano this club dosent deserve you.

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lou, says...
7:20am Sat 10 May 08

im sick off this ! the albion have just lost me as a supporter ive supported them for years but no more ! enough is enough i hope adams fails then you will see what we have let go! there are some big names out of work its not about knowledge adams knows no more than deano .you have let go the most loyal hard working , passionate manager we have ever had ..leave this club deano prove them wrong im right behind you.

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Ed, London says...
9:30am Sat 10 May 08

Shameful treatment of Wilkins who was obviously hired whilst the club needed to save money for the Falmer campaign.Now that Falmer looms large hes been replaced.Disgusting

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Georgie Worst, Australia says...
9:41am Sat 10 May 08

Bye Lou ! What a fair weather supporter you are ! Ive supported the Albion for over 60 years and have flown "home" to the Goldstone and Withdean on many occasions to watch the boys....sorry you wont be at Falmer when I jet over in 2010. M.A. is the best news in years for our club, Deano...loyal...yes, hard working...yes, passionate..yes, a loser...yes ! GET OVER IT. His station in life may be coaching - let him be a coach and we'll all be happy. (Enjoy supporting Palace or whoever your fickle mind chooses !)

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Clive Rawlings, SW France says...
9:44am Sat 10 May 08

deb wrote:
Benny Dorm wrote:
debbie wrote: I hope Dean stays he deserves to stay and more - the way he has been treated is awful - please stay and prove that stupid old idiot Knight wrong
Have the batteries on your vibrator died or are you always this unpleasant?
no i just commented like everyone else - just to get abuse back
So calling me a moron the other day for stating an opinion is allowed ??
So glad to have been proved right as well!!

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Joel Edmondson, Worthing says...
10:50am Sat 10 May 08

Some very odd opinions on here!

My problems with Wilkins were:

Man Management
Tactics
Playing style - fairly negative
Fact he had more money to spend then a lot of the former managers

You can't start critisizing Adams V Wilkins when he hasn't even had a bloody game!

Seriously, I actually can't believe how ridiculous some of you are.

I think 7th, considering our inconsistancies, was a poor place to finish but how you can call this league poor is beyond me!

Doncaster - could easily be a Championship club now. Some fantastic players and a good stadium

Swansea - don't really ened to comment.

Carlisle - fantastic at home, turned it into a real fortress clearly a quality team.

Nottingham Forest - have been on the brinks of promotion ever since they've been in league 1. They are a club with a huge reputation and it is no surprise they are up there, they are quality.

Leeds - a huge club with a huge point deduction. Have some quality players and it shows by the fact that they were able to loan us Westlake.

So how you can say this is a poor league! I mean look at who finished below us. Tranmere, play off serious contenders last season or season before. Millwall, in final of the Fa Cup not that long ago! Swindon, an established side.

Perhaps before you regurgitate the bullshit you have swallowed you could take your head out of your **** and realise you don't know everything about football, you don't know eveyrthing about Brighton, yes you are valid to your opinion but it is considerably weak when you haven't seen a game under adams the second time round yet.

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Paul, Lincoln says...
11:09am Sat 10 May 08

I hope the popular saying 'never go back' doesnt prove itself here! I, like quite a few older fans, remember when Alan Mullery returned after a couple of years away. It wasnt like before. He was then hailed as our special one after getting us to the old 1st division. Second time around it just didnt happen.
I think DW did need some better assistance than he had, but to replace the guy after finishing 7th is wrong. I hope Adams is as sucessful as last time and doesnt disappear to a bigger club at the first opportunity. Hopefully DW will stay. He has had more influence on the club than almost anyone.
Just a little prediction for Nov/Dec 08. DW is now manager of one of our rivals and doing well. We are top of League 1 by 5 points. Derby are struggling in Championship, they sack Paul Jewell. Micky Adams is offeered the job. What happens next?

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macca, brighton says...
11:11am Sat 10 May 08

well i am pleased micky has come back.wikens a great coach,not a manager.he will stay as micky is a manager who gave brighton success.he left on a good note moved on and got more experienced with pre clubs,he will be a manager that is better second time round,he will make sure that wilkins stays.micky was always around the non league clubs scouting i saw him one night with dean at hassocks,he is a commited manager compaterble with brighton supporters,sussex also have conference teams lewes crawley and eastbourne that will produce players that will move up the leagues with brighton.we will be in the championship when brighton get to falmer thn i hope to be seeing man utd and city and the gunners playing at falmer again with micky and deano at the helm

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poop, preston village says...
3:56pm Sat 10 May 08

Ben wrote:
Daren wrote: i hope he stays make a good team with Micky Adams treated bad .. but well happy micky back may have left but was at the march for FALMAR shows me he still had the Albion in his blood .... lets get behind micky and move on !!! SEAGULLS !
Are you drunk?
as fart as a ****

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nick, says...
7:43am Sun 11 May 08

MICKEY ADAMS DOSENT WANT THE BRIGHTON JOB .....MICKEY ADAMS JUST WANTS A JOB.
not been doing too well lately mickey have you !! you all rate him so highly why?

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nick, says...
7:54am Sun 11 May 08

Georgie Worst wrote:
Bye Lou ! What a fair weather supporter you are ! Ive supported the Albion for over 60 years and have flown \"home\" to the Goldstone and Withdean on many occasions to watch the boys....sorry you wont be at Falmer when I jet over in 2010. M.A. is the best news in years for our club, Deano...loyal...yes, hard working...yes, passionate..yes, a loser...yes ! GET OVER IT. His station in life may be coaching - let him be a coach and we\'ll all be happy. (Enjoy supporting Palace or whoever your fickle mind chooses !)
why is dean a loser!! what do you think leicester fans think of adams !!! he was a great help to colchester wasnt he !! silly old man

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nick, says...
7:55am Sun 11 May 08

Georgie Worst wrote:
Bye Lou ! What a fair weather supporter you are ! Ive supported the Albion for over 60 years and have flown \"home\" to the Goldstone and Withdean on many occasions to watch the boys....sorry you wont be at Falmer when I jet over in 2010. M.A. is the best news in years for our club, Deano...loyal...yes, hard working...yes, passionate..yes, a loser...yes ! GET OVER IT. His station in life may be coaching - let him be a coach and we\'ll all be happy. (Enjoy supporting Palace or whoever your fickle mind chooses !)
why is dean a loser!! what do you think leicester fans think of adams !!! he was a great help to colchester wasnt he !! silly old man

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Georgie Worst, Australia says...
8:47am Sun 11 May 08

hi Nick, 1st position is a winner. 7th position is a loser ! I know you are probably English but I thought even you would understand that !Old man yes but still coaching at national level (probably because I still know the difference between winning and losing !)Eat your young words when Mickey produces the goods Dean wasnt able too ! Dean should stay and assist the team more as a coach, leave management to the natural managers a la ADAMS !

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David, Peacehaven says...
9:54am Sun 11 May 08

wilkins is a poor manager , he will never get a decent job anywhere else ! How is he passionate? the man emptyed the stands and he has been given more money then any of the others ever had.

This league is a poor one as how many times have you seen the team in the division below get promoted and then get promoted again (like brighton did)

Adams is the right man as wilkins lacked ideas and contacts to get decent players on loan or to buy. When coppell was here wil got sidwell who has wilkins brought on loan who is decent? Also why is tinselwood still at the club he is another failed manager who would never get another job anywhere else. it is time these failures left the club.

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Tom Batts, Brighton says...
9:01am Thu 15 May 08

Dean Wilkins did a great job for The Albion under extremely difficult circumstances. No one could blame him if he decided to leave for another managerial position but many of us hope he'll stay. Dick Knight is right, Dean's got an amazing gift as a coach and I beleive together he and Micky Adams would be an amazing team. If this happens then I can really see Brighton pushing for automatic promotion within 2 seasons.

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