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  • "I am in the group that consider our future is more secure if we continue in the Championship,the fact that we cannot afford players like Marney makes me more certain.
    I realise of course that we would qualify for a large sum if we had secured promotion but we would still have to find several million pounds to have any chance of staying up but we now know this sort of backing is not available, so lets enjoy what we have."
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Poke puzzled about Albion future

5:00pm Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Albion By Andy Naylor

Albion goalkeeper Michael Poke is undecided about his future.

He is torn between staying, because he likes the club so much, or severing his ties to have more chance of playing.

Poke has made only one first team appearance in two years with the Seagulls after signing on a free transfer from Southampton.

The 26-year-old, third choice behind Peter Brezoavn and Casper Ankergren, is back at the club to sort his future out after three months on loan at Bristol Rovers.

Poke told The Argus: "I had a year's option on my contract last year and signed it and I am in the same situation this time but I am not sure at the moment what is going to happen.

"I like it here. The club is run right, I like the way we play, I enjoy train ing and you could not ask for a better group of lads. The only thing missing is i'm not playing.

"It's a big club as well which is going places but at the end of the day you want to play games."

Poke performed well at Rovers under former Albion chief Mark McGhee but they already have the fit-again Scott Bevan and have signed 18-year-old Conor Gough from Charlton as his understudy.

Poke added: "Casper and Peter are both in their thirties and David James has been playing at 40 so, barring injuries, I have still got a long way to go.

"There is no substitute for playing games and that's what I want to do but when you are at a club you enjoy so much it's a hard one."

Meanwhile, Albion will not be making a move for Dean Marney, despite reports linking them with the Burnley midfielder, as he is well out of their wage range.

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