Dick Knight came out fighting today over the Albion boardroom crisis.

The Seagulls' hard-hitting chairman, caught up in the collapse of a betting company set up by former director Kevin Griffiths, is adamant he has done nothing wrong.

Knight says it would be "totally unjust" if the Griffiths affair in any way jeopardised the future of the football club.

He has also defended the reputation of Griffiths, who remains a major Albion shareholder.

The Argus revealed earlier this month that Burgess Hill-based Sporting Options, founded by Griffiths, has folded, owing punters millions of pounds.

Knight accepted an invitation from Griffiths two years ago to become non-executive chairman of the company in order to help with its launch.

"Obviously we are all very disappointed with what has happened to Kevin's company," Knight said.

"I am in particular, because he asked me to be the figurehead when he was launching the company.

"As a non-executive director, he asked me to advise on the launch of the company which I did and that was it. I had no further involvement whatsoever in the company.

"We are obviously disappointed that it can in any way affect the football club. It mustn't be allowed to, because it would be totally unfair.

"Some businesses succeed, some fail, that has nothing to do with the football club. Do you think any one of the football club directors would do anything to damage the club?

"There is far more of a mission we have, to deliver a stadium for this club and this city.

"We feel for Kevin in terms of his situation, but we have to get on with running the club and this has nothing to do with that.

"Anyone who knows me knows I am a reasonable person. This guy asked me to help him launch his company and he had just put £500,000 into the club.

"It's unfortunate what has happened, but I have got nothing to hide whatsoever. If you are the chairman or director of a football club you put yourself up to be criticised as well as lauded if things go well.

"I am fully aware of that responsibility, but that it should in any way jeopardise the future of the football club is totally unjust."

The money invested by Albion directors was converted from loans into shares when Knight struck a deal with his predecessor Bill Archer to sever any financial link between the club and its controversial former chairman.

Chief executive Martin Perry said: "When Archer left, the conversion to shares for equity by the directors was a significant move which wasn't picked up on a great deal at the time.

"It strengthens the balance sheet, because the money cannot be taken out."

Knight has no qualms about Griffiths maintaining a connection with the club through his shareholding.

"Some people have expressed concern that the problems with his company could impact on Albion," he said.

"They won't impact on Albion at all. If it was a loan to the club he could ask for it back, but it is locked in as equity and cannot be removed. In that context he will remain as a shareholder.

"Kevin has resigned from the board, as I asked him to do, but his money is still in the club and cannot be touched. Let it be recorded that Kevin Griffiths put £500,000 into the football club. That is how Albion fans should think of Kevin Griffiths, not anything else.

"He got off his hands and helped the club when it needed it. That is the way I think of Kevin and so do the other directors."

Griffiths is the second director to resign from the Albion board this year. Chris Kidger, owner of Friday-Ad, quit as commercial director to concentrate on his business and running his farm near Ardingly.

That leaves only Derek Chapman and Ray Bloom alongside Knight and Perry, but Knight said: "I'm very happy with the board as it is now. They are all Albion fans and are in it to help the club, not for any other reason.

"We were very sorry to lose Chris Kidger and Kevin Griffiths. We will be looking to replace them, but it's not critical.

"The only directors who take an active role in the running of the club on a day to day basis are Martin and myself.

"But, as we said when we launched the Alive and Kicking appeal, if anyone with serious money wants to contact us we are only too happy to sit down and talk to them. That offer remains.

"We are looking to bring in like-minded people in terms of their love for Albion and their ability to help it financially."

Knight is comforted by the positive response from supporters to the Alive and Kicking Appeal, launched in September to cover a £2 million shortfall.

"Fifteen hundred people have responded to the appeal and they have generated around £230,000, which is fantastic." he said.

"It hasn't thrown up a closet Roman Abramovich, but it is still an amazing demonstration of fans' devotion to the club and their support for what we are trying to achieve.

"Most people understand what this board is facing. We don't have anything to be ashamed of.

"We have reduced the debt of this club and we have given the fans success, with the fantastic contribution of the managers we've been lucky enough to have and the players."