Simon Rodger has saluted Albion and Steve Coppell for prolonging his League career.

The Shoreham-born midfielder was without a club in October when Coppell, his boss at Crystal Palace, snapped him up to add some top flight know-how to the relegation fight.

Rodger has responded with a consistent contribution which is sure to land him a new contract if Coppell stays.

The 31-year-old, signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season, said: "I would probably have ended up going to Woking because it was nice and local for me, just to try and get myself back into the shop window.

"I trained with a few clubs but they were a bit too far away for me. I wanted to stay in the London area.

"Coming here has preserved my career in League football. It's been a bonus and obviously with Steve coming it was great for me.

"It's nice to play in the First Division again and show I can still do it. I'd love to stay. I've said all along I've enjoyed it.

"Ever since I came in the spirit has been tremendous. There is a great camaraderie, the best I've seen at a club, even when we were right down at the bottom.

"It seems as if I have been here ages. The lads have been great and I've fitted in quite well. I'd like to stay a bit longer and I'd just like to keep Brighton in the First Division."

Rodger's future is likely to be directly linked with that of his three-time manager.

Coppell's contract runs out in October and he has put talks on hold until the end of the season.

"I think it's massively important to keep Steve Coppell here," Rodger said. "He's done a great job.

"We only had four points when he came. When you think how many we have got now it's amazing.

"They desperately need to keep him here with his knowledge of the game.

"I am sure come the end of the season there will be a few bigger clubs that try to get hold of him but hopefully Brighton can keep him, especially if we stay in the First Division."

Rodger could play a leading role in the battle for survival. He has seen it all before during 13 seasons with the Seagulls' bitter rivals.

"We went down one season from the Premiership and they said it was the highest number of points for a team to go down in a season.

"We thought we were safe. We were celebrating after the last game at home but Oldham won their last three games against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Southampton. Nobody could believe it.

"I went down before that as well, so I've had a lot of experience of relegation battles.

"It just drains you if you go down, especially when you see the faces of the fans who have supported you throughout the season. It's not nice for them.

"I'll be trying my hardest to keep Brighton up. I've had experience with Palace as well where we won at Stockport on the last day to stay up, so I've seen both sides of the coin. Hopefully it will be the good side for Brighton.

"We don't really want to go to Grimsby needing three points. Hopefully it won't come to that but if it does the lads will be up for it and I am sure we would get the win if we needed it.

"As the gaffer has said we would have been well happy when he came here to need a result at Grimsby to stay up."

Coppell also signed Rodger on loan during his brief tenure at Manchester City.

He knew exactly what he would be getting, a sweet left foot, tremendous endeavour and commitment to the cause. Rodger has been playing with a broken toe since November. "Looking at the qualities I knew he had, I knew he would bring an awful lot to the team," Coppell said.

"I still maintain he has got as good a delivery on the left side from set pieces as David Beckham on the right.

"If he had as much faith in his left foot as I have then I think he would have scored an awful lot more goals.

"You can almost bank on it coming in at pace with a little bit of shape on the ball.

"As he's got older he has appreciated what he can and can't do in physical terms. He is a terrier and he gives everything to the cause.

"Those qualities were perfectly suited to all the other players at this club and he slotted in more or less straight away.

"I think he has still got more goals in him just to add that bit extra to his game but he has been important for us.

"Playing with a broken toe just shows his attitude. It's easy these days for professionals if they have a problem to look towards the future and looking after themselves.

"Jolly is a team player and that is an important factor for us. He has done for us exactly what I thought he would.

"He's solid, he can pass the ball, he can see situations, he's got experience and that isn't at the expense of his physical contribution. He can still get around the pitch for 90 minutes as well as anyone."