Axed Albion manager Mark McGhee declared today that Dean Wilkins and Dean White must be handed the job on a permanent basis.

McGhee claims it would be "ridiculous" for the Seagulls to look beyond the caretaker partnership taking charge for the first time at Millwall this afternoon.

McGhee, sacked on Thursday along with assistant Bob Booker after three years at the helm, said: "I think, given the nature of the job, it would be ridiculous to look elsewhere.

"If they are suddenly going to find a pot of money to spend at Christmas, where it's going to require an experienced manager to manage a majority of experienced players, then maybe they have got to get somebody else in.

"But, as long as they are working with the type of players in the squad at the moment, then Dean Wilkins and Dean White are more than qualified to handle that."

Chairman Dick Knight, now looking for his ninth manager in as many years, has given Wilkins and White carte blanche to run the team for an unlimited period and he has challenged them to prove themselves.

"Dean Wilkins is in a caretaker role, backed by Dean White, and I've not made any decisions yet about the future," Knight said.

"I have spoken to both of them at length and explained to them this is a chance to prove to me I don't need to look elsewhere if I see an improvement in the team and the way they are playing.

"There's no time limit on it. We have two games a week for the next three weeks, so they will be in at the deep end but they are up for the challenge. It will be Dean and Dean at Withdean for the foreseeable future."

Wilkins was promoted from youth to first team coach in the summer and White moved from coach and reserve team manager to chief scout in the aftermath of the bid by major shareholder Tony Bloom to oust McGhee.

"I've made it clear their jobs are safe," Knight said. "Whatever happens Dean Wilkins will be involved in the first team, at the very minimum as coach as he was before.

"It's basically Dean Wilkins assisted by Dean White, because ultimately I want Dean White going back to chief scout."

If Knight ends up appointing an 'outsider' it will be "absolutely mandatory" that Wilkins stays.

The chairman added: "I've got one or two people in the back of my mind but I am not going with that yet. The two Deans will be given the chance to prove to me I don't have to look elsewhere.

"I have also made it clear to them that we must continue to pursue new players and I want the fans to be a little bit patient.

"They should not expect instant success, it's going to take time. Fans will appreciate it if the team start playing with cohesion and attacking style."