Whitehawk have formally lodged their intention to change their name to Brighton City FC.

The club have registered their desire with the Football Association for the change to be implemented in time for next season.

The move will be opposed by Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chairman John Summers told The Argus in November the club would be making a second application for a name change.

A previous application was turned down amid objections from Albion, who are adamant they do not want another team using the name Brighton.

Summers believes the name is holding Whitehawk back, partly due to a common albeit maybe unfair conception about the east Brighton estate which they represent and more significantly because few people outside the area know where the place is.

Whitehawk’s profile has risen significantly since their run to the second round of the FA Cup, culminating in their replay defeat at home to Dagenham and Redbridge being shown live on BT Sport, and an element of fans believe the name change is no longer necessary following the exposure the club has received during the last two months.

Summers, though, wants to push ahead with his plans, insisting the move is necessary to help the long-term sustainability of a club that have come a long way in a short space of time.

Since their previous application was rejected, the FA have changed the rules so that no two club names can sound similar but Summers extends to challenge that.

A club statement yesterday read: “No further comment regarding the process will be made at this time.”

Meanwhile, Whitehawk’s squad has been depleted further by the departure of left-back Craig Braham-Barrett.

The on-loan defender has returned to Ebbsfleet United at the end of his loan spell with the Hawks.

Braham-Barrett joined Hawks in November and has turned in a series of impressive displays in ten appearances for the club.

Manager Steven King stated his desire to keep him at the Enclosed Ground, either on a longer loan or a permanent deal.

However, Hawks have been unable to extend the deal for a player whose chances of regular football at Ebbsfleet were further hampered by the recent arrival of Bryan van den Bogaert, ironically from Whitehawk.

Hawks are already operating with a small squad and will be without right-back Nick Arnold, who completes a two-match ban, when they hosts Steyning Town in the quarter-final of the Parafix Sussex Senior Cup tonight.

David Ijaha is also missing, after being ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury.

King said: “Craig is going back to Ebbsfleet, which is a massive blow.

“He has been our best player over the last month and we wanted to keep him.”