Albion boss Peter Taylor has pledged to do everything in his power to keep key defender Danny Cullip at the club.

That could include another new contract offer for the want-away centre half.

But Taylor fears his efforts could be undermined by the painstaking progress of Albion's new stadium plans for Falmer.

Cullip stunned the Seagulls in November when he asked for a transfer. Taylor is both relieved and surprised that the only inquiry for the highly regarded 25-year-old so far came from Cardiff.

"Cardiff phoned me, I returned the call and I have heard nothing since," he revealed.

Taylor is desperate to retain the services of the influential Cullip, who made his 100th League appearance for Albion at Oldham last Saturday.

The formidable Bracknell-born stopper followed that up by captaining the team in Monday's 3-1 destruction of leaders Reading in the absence from the starting line-up of both Paul Rogers and Charlie Oatway.

Cullip's contract has been extended once, to the end of next season, and according to chairman Dick Knight he is "one of our top wage earners".

He is regarded by Taylor as an essential part of his plans as the Seagulls challenge for a place in the First Division, but the drawback for the manager is one of the fundamental issues which led to Cullip requesting a move in the first place.

The player has not made his grievances public. Indeed, the only comment he has made on the issue followed the home FA Cup tie against Rushden and Diamonds in December.

After scoring a stunning goal with his left foot, Cullip said: "It's time for a change for myself, but I don't want to go into it any more than that."

It was Knight who provided a couple of clues in a statement made at the time of Cullip's transfer request.

The chairman said: "This may have something to do with our recent training ground problems, it may be because we play in a limited temporary home."

Albion have been back at their Falmer training headquarters for some time now, but the proposed move from Withdean to a new stadium is still a long way off.

Taylor said: "Danny has been first class, a winner and an absolute rock. Everybody told me he is a good defender, but he has been good on the ball as well. That part of his game is improving all the time.

"We speak every now and then about his position and he is as good as gold. It hasn't affected him whatsoever.

"I intend to make sure we do everything we can to keep him and if that means offering another contract we will have to think about that. One of the main reasons for Danny's request was the stadium issue. Unless that changes they are not going to be easy negotiations."

Every successful side needs a strong spine and Taylor would love to still have Cullip, Bobby Zamora and Michel Kuipers together next season.

Kuipers' future is not in doubt. The big Dutchman revealed in last Saturday's Sports Argus a desire to remain as Albion's No. 1 beyond his current deal, which expires at the end of the 2002-2003 season.

Zamora is another matter. Taylor has always been determined to hold onto his young goal machine this season and he is confident that will happen.

Next season could be trickier, especially if Albion miss out on promotion. Zamora may then decide it is time to take another step to a higher level.

Taylor is by no means resigned to losing him. "Bobby's situation might change if we get into Division One," he said. "We might be in a better position to offer him something to stay with us."

The concern is that a cash-strapped Board, constrained by the limitations of Withdean, may by the summer be more tempted to sell the club's biggest asset in order to finance First Division survival.

It would be a nice problem to have, but the difficulties Albion face in retaining their two best outfield players provides further motivation for Knight and his colleagues to keep on banging the Falmer drum.

Only with a new stadium can the club's true potential be realised.