Brighton and Hove Albion admit Steve Coppell, who walked out on Brentford yesterday, would fit the bill as their new manager.

The former Manchester United winger and Crystal Palace boss cited financial constraints as a key reason for his departure.

Brentford yesterday axed six players, including highly-rated striker Lloyd Owusu and captain Paul Evans.

Coppell has been linked with the vacant manager's job at Albion since Peter Taylor's shock resignation in the wake of last season's Division Two title triumph. Wimbledon are also thought to be interested in him.

Seagulls chief executive Martin Perry said the club were refusing to hurried in choosing Taylor's successor but admitted Coppell was the sort of man they were looking for.

Perry said: "I did not even know Steve Coppell had left Brentford.

"Clearly he is somebody who has the right credentials for us but it is a decision we will take in due course. There are one or two options and we are mulling over those."

Coppell guided Brentford to the play-off final last season, masterminding a 4-0 hammering of Albion at Griffin Park on the way.

As well as financial restraints, Coppell, capped 42 times by England between 1978 and 1983, said he was also concerned by the delay in finding a suitable site for a new stadium.

He said: "I'm like a player, I suppose, who has come to the end of a contract. I'd like to manage at as high a level as I can.

"My record in recent years has been looking after teams who have been in dire financial straits. But there is a hell of a market in that and I know I can get the best out of limited resources.

"I'm just sitting here now and I'll be looking for work and looking for a job."

Meanwhile, former Portsmouth manager Graham Rix has thrown his hat into the ring.

He said: "I fancy the job strongly. Of all the jobs around at the moment, this is the one with the biggest potential.

"The Wimbledon and Brentford jobs are free but I feel the potential is there at Brighton."