Peter Taylor had made up his mind to quit Albion before the Saturday promotion party

Albion were rocked by his resignation yesterday, less than three weeks after they secured back-to-back championships.

But Taylor's future was always in doubt while the three-year contract on offer when he took over from Micky Adams in October remained unsigned.

Taylor wanted assurances about the new stadium and his budget for next season.

He had met chairman Dick Knight two days earlier to thrash out an agreement. Instead Taylor walked away knowing he could not continue working with what was on offer.

Taylor said: "I had plans ready for what I would need next season. But the budget offered was not enough for me to carry out those plans.

"I wanted to bring new players to the club. There are also players already there who deserve new contracts as a reward.

"I understand why I didn't get what I asked for. It's nobody's fault. The club need a new stadium and have to survive on a budget that is limited by the 6,900 crowd limit at Withdean.

"If it was a situation where a stadium was close, say only a year or two away, I'd have had a go at the challenge of trying to keep us in the First Division. But there are still no answers on the new stadium. It could be four or five years.

"When I came I thought it would be a year-and-a-half, but I found the situation was different to what I thought it was going to be.

"It is very frustrating. I believe Brighton, with a new stadium, could be one of the best jobs in the world.

"It was a very tough decision and an emotional one to make. I saw the fans at the parade and the club has incredible support. Those fans deserve a new stadium.

"I can't see why anyone would object to one. It would do so much for the city.

"I've been honest with Dick. I've got a lot of respect for him and didn't want to do him a disservice. I thought I'd give him and the club time to get a replacement for the new season. I wanted to do the decent thing instead of it dragging on."

Taylor denied reports that he was on his way to former club Crystal Palace.

He said: "There has been lots of speculation and rumour. But I have not got a new job lined up. I owe that to the chairman."

Taylor, who managed England for one match prior to the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson, rejected suggestions that he will return to the national fold for this summer's World Cup.

Eriksson is a big admirer of Taylor's coaching abilities.

But Taylor said: "Going to Japan is a non-starter. I didn't have a proper holiday last year and this summer I intend to have a long break with my family."

However, he is eventually planning a return to the game.

He said: "I still want to be involved in football and the phone may ring tomorrow and things might change. But as it stands now I've had no contact with anyone about another job and am looking forward to some sunshine."

Taylor has a message for the fans.

"I might end up looking the villain and a lot of fans might be disappointed that I've gone.

"But I will say to them that I would have stayed here for 25 years if the stadium had been there. All the club needs is some help."

Taylor joined Albion last October from Leicester after Micky Adams left the Seagulls to move in the opposite direction.

He is proud of what he has achieved during his short stay He said: "I am satisfied by the fact that we started passing the ball around more and produced some goalscoring midfielders. The turning point was when we beat Reading at home and our midfielders scored.

"They are an honest bunch of players who try hard to be the best they can be. Even when Charlie Oatway and Paul Rogers were out of the team they were still a big help. I'd like to thank them all for their efforts."

Taylor's managerial careeer included jobs that required working on a tight budget.

After an illustrious playing career, which included four England caps and spells at Crystal Palace and Tottenham, he became player-boss at non-league Dartford where he enjoyed four successful seasons in the Southern League.

He then went into the league as assistant manager at Watford before he succeeded Barry Fry at Southend in 1993.

He was sacked and returned to non-league with Dover who finished third from bottom of the Conference under his guidance.

Then former Spurs team-mate Glenn Hoddle, the England manager, offered Taylor the under-21 manager's post.

He was controversially replaced despite an impressive record after Hoddle was sacked.

Taylor moved into league management again with Gillingham in 1999 and led them to Division One after a play-off final victory over Wigan at Wembley.

A year later he was in the Premiership with Leicester following the departure of Martin O'Neill to Celtic.

He led the Foxes to the top of the table and won the manager-of-the-month award for September.

Taylor returned to the England fold as a part-time coach on October 22 and he managed the national side against Italy, making David Beckham captain.

But Leicester eventually finished 13th after winning only one of their last nine games.

This season saw Leicester rooted to the bottom with five points from eight games and Taylor was sacked on September 30.

But on October 17 he was appointed Albion boss after the departure of Micky Adams to Filbert Street.

Albion chairman Dick Knight said: "It's a great shame that Peter has chosen to resign.

"He has done a terrific job for the club in leading the Albion to the Second Division title and it is sad that he doesn't wish to continue.

"We have lost good managers in the past and grown stronger for it. This club will continue to go forward and has a packed agenda for the summer, with preparations for Division One, Falmer, the expansion at Withdean and now the search for a new manager - all challenges we're ready for."

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