Seagulls legend eyes return to club

5:00pm Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Gordon Smith has applied to become Albion's chief executive Gordon Smith has applied to become Albion's chief executive

Albion legend Gordon Smith wants to make a dramatic return to the club and help them back into the top flight of English football.

Smith has applied to become the ambitious Seagulls’ next chief executive.

The Scot’s strong Albion connections during the glory days of the early 1980s and impressive CV make him one of the front-runners for the coveted post.

Smith, 57, made more than 100 appearances for Albion in the old First Division between 1980 and 1983.

He became famous for a last-gasp chance to win the 1983 FA Cup final at Wembley, when his shot was saved by Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.

See The Argus today for full story

Comments(49)

Willie, Willie Irvine says...
5:15pm Tue 22 May 12

Currently out of work following Rangers' problems, he doesn't appear to have the required wow factor in club business management to put him seriously in the running. Can't see it happening, personally.

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turtling. says...
5:15pm Tue 22 May 12

He's got no chance, hasn't been around here for years then comes sniffing round when there's a new ground, I could've scored that goal blindfolded, we should've won that game but for him, he should be banned from the whole of Brighton

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albionfan33 says...
5:26pm Tue 22 May 12

off topic slightly but gai assulin has been released i'd take him in a heartbeat. Lets hope his wage demands aint to silly

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rolivan says...
5:32pm Tue 22 May 12

More importantly Assulin has been released b Man City

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rolivan says...
5:32pm Tue 22 May 12

More importantly Assulin has been released b Man City

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tandseagalsamantha says...
5:51pm Tue 22 May 12

has assulin been released by Man City-lol

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seagulljoe says...
6:03pm Tue 22 May 12

Can anyone clear this up...has Assulin been released?

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DGee says...
6:08pm Tue 22 May 12

And Smith must ....

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Chip of Goring says...
6:19pm Tue 22 May 12

I think Assualin has been released by Man City but best to check again once I've double checked.

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Albion fan in London says...
6:25pm Tue 22 May 12

Craig Whyte appointed Smith- Rangers are facing Administration not sure this is such a great story??

Ps Assulin has been released by Man city according to Natalie Sawyer on Skysports

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Albion fan in London says...
6:25pm Tue 22 May 12

Craig Whyte appointed Smith- Rangers are facing Administration not sure this is such a great story??

Ps Assulin has been released by Man city according to Natalie Sawyer on Skysports

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sidtheseagull says...
6:35pm Tue 22 May 12

Legend....?

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Ringmer Rich says...
6:37pm Tue 22 May 12

I didn't quite catch that... Assulin, you say.. he's been released?.. Didn't know he'd been banged up..

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SMF20 says...
6:39pm Tue 22 May 12

Sign Assulin up and his colleague Hargreaves subject to our wonder doctor being able to work his magic.

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Ringmer Rich says...
7:06pm Tue 22 May 12

I think you're being a little harsh on Smith, he did score the first goal with a sublime header

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namgo49 says...
7:55pm Tue 22 May 12

Impressive CV eh!

I think his strategic expertise in football north of the border speaks volumes. Here's his application, now where's the shredder.

I wonder what Peter Kenyon is doing now?

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The Real Ryfish says...
8:26pm Tue 22 May 12

Smith was Chief Exec of the Scottish FA for about 3 years, so he must be a decent administrator. Legend.

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ballantrrae says...
8:54pm Tue 22 May 12

The Real Ryfish wrote:
Smith was Chief Exec of the Scottish FA for about 3 years, so he must be a decent administrator. Legend.
For the record Smith came down (he was invited) to the opening of the Amex last summer.
As Real Ryfish says he must be a reasonable candidate if he was CEO of the Scottish FA.
It is difficult to know where Smith stands in the 'pecking order' since we don't know who else has applied. However if he is an indication of the quality of applicant then it reflects very well on the Albion since clearly we are seen as one of the places to join. Things are definately on the up.
Seagulljoe and others yes Assulin has been released by Man City. It will be interesting to see if Poyet signs him up for the BHA squad - I thought he showed promise.

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Alfie T says...
8:59pm Tue 22 May 12

I was there at Coventry when we were 3.0 down with ten minutes to go, Smith scored a hat trick and they refused to give him the match ball. Classy player,would like to see him involved again.

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Albion fan in London says...
9:20pm Tue 22 May 12

I appreciate most of you fans on this mickey mouse site just wanna rant on about who we are signing and basically reckon players like Michael Owen are likely to sign or that players like Liam Trotter will be a "great" signing are totally deluded.
WHY would you want Smith back at our club ? He has just been involved in the demise of a team that is over 140 years old that has a gate of over 50k fans week in week out...
oh... Assulin should sign up too, err what games where you watching fella, light weight and too small to play in the champo end of!! Can someone who knows football please comment as I cant handle the BS that some people spout on here thinking they know what they are talking about.

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Alfie T says...
9:27pm Tue 22 May 12

Albion fan in London wrote:
I appreciate most of you fans on this mickey mouse site just wanna rant on about who we are signing and basically reckon players like Michael Owen are likely to sign or that players like Liam Trotter will be a "great" signing are totally deluded.
WHY would you want Smith back at our club ? He has just been involved in the demise of a team that is over 140 years old that has a gate of over 50k fans week in week out...
oh... Assulin should sign up too, err what games where you watching fella, light weight and too small to play in the champo end of!! Can someone who knows football please comment as I cant handle the BS that some people spout on here thinking they know what they are talking about.
Don't come on here then.

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mark by the sea says...
9:28pm Tue 22 May 12

Albion fan in London wrote:
I appreciate most of you fans on this mickey mouse site just wanna rant on about who we are signing and basically reckon players like Michael Owen are likely to sign or that players like Liam Trotter will be a "great" signing are totally deluded. WHY would you want Smith back at our club ? He has just been involved in the demise of a team that is over 140 years old that has a gate of over 50k fans week in week out... oh... Assulin should sign up too, err what games where you watching fella, light weight and too small to play in the champo end of!! Can someone who knows football please comment as I cant handle the BS that some people spout on here thinking they know what they are talking about.
Hmm thinks its called nothing else to talk about! as for those you name... forget them, Chris Mcphee is available as it Jake Robinson who has been offered 6 months of his one year contract in wages if he goes! lol

ps, Clint Hill on a year deal.

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mark5 says...
9:30pm Tue 22 May 12

I believe that I heard somewhere that Assulin had been released!! Skilful player but I think a bit lightweight to make a real impression in this league. My feeling is that it is all about "big" players with skill in the Championship.

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Cory and Trevor says...
9:52pm Tue 22 May 12

turtling. wrote:
He's got no chance, hasn't been around here for years then comes sniffing round when there's a new ground, I could've scored that goal blindfolded, we should've won that game but for him, he should be banned from the whole of Brighton
You're a cretin who knows nothing about football. Anyone who does knows that he didn't do much wrong with his shot, and that 9 times out of 10 such a strike would go in. So keep your gobsh*te to yourself.

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championshipgull says...
10:38pm Tue 22 May 12

Previously being chief executive of the Scottish FA is a good qualification. Scoring for Brighton against Man U in the FA Cup final is a great qualification. .

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mark5 says...
10:45pm Tue 22 May 12

Cory and Trevor wrote:
turtling. wrote:
He's got no chance, hasn't been around here for years then comes sniffing round when there's a new ground, I could've scored that goal blindfolded, we should've won that game but for him, he should be banned from the whole of Brighton
You're a cretin who knows nothing about football. Anyone who does knows that he didn't do much wrong with his shot, and that 9 times out of 10 such a strike would go in. So keep your gobsh*te to yourself.
Another Troll, best ignored!

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Captain Haddock says...
10:46pm Tue 22 May 12

I wish Mancashter Sheikhy would release Assulin....anyone heard word?! ;0);0);0)

Smith back to Brighty, eh? Would be an interesting appointment.

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mark5 says...
10:46pm Tue 22 May 12

Sorry, I am referring to Turtling by the way!

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davidinsouthampton says...
10:52pm Tue 22 May 12

He's clearly got to be a credible candidate because of his CV. Nobody with any sense, though, would give him the job because of his playing career with the club. I am sure the club will have a clear idea of what sort of Chief Executive it wants. It does not need one to oversee the building of a stadium, because we have already done that. Sound financial management will come in to it, I would imagine. But what sort of person comes in will depend on where they want to put the emphasis in the development of the club.

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turtling. says...
12:04am Wed 23 May 12

I'd rather have died that not smashed that ball past bailey

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Hugothepug says...
12:46am Wed 23 May 12

Albion fan in London wrote:
I appreciate most of you fans on this mickey mouse site just wanna rant on about who we are signing and basically reckon players like Michael Owen are likely to sign or that players like Liam Trotter will be a "great" signing are totally deluded. WHY would you want Smith back at our club ? He has just been involved in the demise of a team that is over 140 years old that has a gate of over 50k fans week in week out... oh... Assulin should sign up too, err what games where you watching fella, light weight and too small to play in the champo end of!! Can someone who knows football please comment as I cant handle the BS that some people spout on here thinking they know what they are talking about.
Alright mate, calm down...anyone is entitled to come on here and say whatever they want..and anyway who made you the oracle on BHAFC!! Relax, safe in the knowledge that your number 1 on all things Brighton!!

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AGT999 says...
6:47am Wed 23 May 12

Ringmer Rich wrote:
I think you're being a little harsh on Smith, he did score the first goal with a sublime header
I've never blamed Smith for that miss, Robinson bottled it, he should have taken it on himself, Smith was never expecting that pass to him.

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AGT999 says...
6:47am Wed 23 May 12

Ringmer Rich wrote:
I think you're being a little harsh on Smith, he did score the first goal with a sublime header
I've never blamed Smith for that miss, Robinson bottled it, he should have taken it on himself, Smith was never expecting that pass to him.

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dave from bexill says...
8:49am Wed 23 May 12

Alumunia anyone? No, I thought not.

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dave from bexill says...
8:54am Wed 23 May 12

Sorry, I meant to sayAlmunia

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Captain Haddock says...
9:11am Wed 23 May 12

Sounds like you may have reinvented Almunia as not so much a potential new Albion hero as a superhero, Dave: Aluminium Man!
;0)

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graham w says...
9:25am Wed 23 May 12

bring him on, he wears a nice suit now, and he was the type of player gus would have liked, and we will always speculate whether bailey made a good save or smithy missed,we will never know..!!!!

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Vernon Wentworth says...
11:43am Wed 23 May 12

Gordon came to the Cup Final 25th Anniversary Dinner held at the Grand Hotel in 2008.

The club were still at Withdean then, no nice new stadium and he was chief exec of the Scotish FA at the time.

He was a busy man but he took time out to attend.

He got a standing ovation that night and it was obvious then that the club meant a lot to him.

I appreciate his time at Rangers could hurt his chances but I for one will be pleased if he gets the job.

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Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
12:39pm Wed 23 May 12

Really, really hope he gets it. Leaving aside his Albion connections he did great work for the Scottish FA and I don't see how he can be blamed for Rangers - and at least he knows the warning signs now! High-calibre candidate.

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BHAger says...
1:28pm Wed 23 May 12

How can anyone say Smith overlooked the demise of Rangers. The turmoil at Rangers had been happening way before he was appointed. Besides, he was Director of Football at Rangers, it wasn't his job to deal with financial affairs.

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hubby says...
9:52pm Wed 23 May 12

Legend no.
Pariah yes.

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coach03 says...
10:43pm Wed 23 May 12

Have I missed something? What's happened / happening to Mr Chapman?

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Captain Haddock says...
12:59am Thu 24 May 12

coach03 wrote:
Have I missed something? What's happened / happening to Mr Chapman?
He's only the interim man til a permanent successor is appointed...was stated thus at the time (though not "loudly").

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lochlomond says...
7:33am Thu 24 May 12

"High-calibre candidate" ... If you ask him he will tell you he is. And if you ask him he will tell you that he is Paul Macartney's best mate. And if you ask him, he only ever fell out with management at Kilmarnock, Rangers, the Albion, Man City and in Austria because they were not good enough. (Have any of you read his book? Its all in there.)

He was in my local wine bar a few months back and we had a wee chat because of the Albion connection. As I tried to escape he insisted on giving me his autograph - and it wasn't on a cheque!

PS I don't blame him for 1983 ... Bailey just got lucky!

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Claude Back says...
9:29am Thu 24 May 12

Ringmer Rich wrote:
I think you're being a little harsh on Smith, he did score the first goal with a sublime header
Quite agree re Smith, he was a great foorballer and one of the best we ever had. Remember, younger fans, he did it in what would now be the Premiersship. We could do with someome of his class in the team now.
More importantly, anyone heard whether Assulin has been released?

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Claude Back says...
9:34am Thu 24 May 12

And not only a 'foorballer' but a great footballer too.

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hubby says...
10:42pm Thu 24 May 12

He took wages from BHA that we couldn't afford.He performed in a mediocre way and was part of the team that got us relegated.Then he left!

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hubby says...
10:47pm Thu 24 May 12

One goal every five games.
Definately not a legend!

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ShorehamBeachcomber says...
10:07pm Fri 25 May 12

My cleaner told me that assassin has been released by Citeee, anyone confirm?

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