Comment: Albion look slick (From The Argus)

Comment: Albion look slick

11:20am Thursday 9th July 2009

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It is, at this early stage, still very much a work in progress, but there is no mistaking the slick and more business-like approach of Russell Slade and Tony Bloom’s Albion.

Slade has certainly raised the bar since becoming manager in March.

The end-of-season clearout which followed the Seagulls’ dramatic escape from relegation carried an underlying message – that he will not settle for mediocrity.

So far so good in his meticulous rebuilding of the squad. Free-scoring winger Mark Wright has been lured away from MK Dons, a club which finished towards the other end of the League One table last season.

We saw enough of Gary Dicker during his influential loan spell to appreciate he can do a job in midfield.

Dicker’s former Stockport team-mate, highly-rated young centre half James Tunicliffe, was promising enough to earn a trial with Liverpool.

Andrew Crofts is a Welsh international with a bit of a point to prove after falling out of favour at Gillingham, where he was captain.

And Motherwell could have sold Graeme Smith for more than £200,000 before Albion snapped up the consistent custodian for nothing.

Further high-calibre signings are in Slade’s plans but his radical programme of replenishment is not only confined to playing matters.

He is also still in the process of revamping his coaching staff, the medical team, scouting network and the technical department which analyses performances and statistics.

Recruitment continues and roles are being more clearly defined. No stone is being left unturned.

None of this is, of course, a guarantee of success, especially in a tougher-looking League One next season with a brand new team, but at least Albion are giving themselves the best possible chance.

Such a wide-ranging programme of modernisation, on and off the pitch, would not have been possible without the money invested by the new chairman.

Bloom’s style is much more low-profile than Dick Knight’s but yesterday’s opening of the stylish new club shop in the centre of Brighton – just across the road from the site of its rather tired predecessor – is a sign of things to come.

Albion are gearing up for Falmer and Knight can take comfort and credit for leaving the club in such safe and capable hands, both in the dugout and the Boardroom.

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