Scott Ramsay has admitted nobody is to blame for the finish of his long association with Albion, apart possibly from himself.

The Hastings-born striker has joined Nationwide Conference strugglers Dover after eight seasons with the Seagulls.

The beginning of the end for Ramsay came last summer. The signing of Dirk Lehmann had increased competition for forward places and the 21-year-old was overweight when he reported back for pre-season training.

He was shipped out on loan to Yeovil and by the time he returned Micky Adams had left for Leicester and Peter Taylor arrived in the opposite direction.

"What happened in the summer could have knocked me back," Ramsay said. "I obviously started the season on the wrong foot, but Micky encouraged me to go to Yeovil to get some first team football.

"When I came back I was in a lot better shape and I felt a lot better about myself, but then he had gone.

"I don't think anyone is to blame. It's obviously very disappointing to leave after eight seasons, but it is no-one's fault.

"Peter Taylor came in with his own ideas of who he wants and I didn't fit into that. He was very honest. I asked him what sort of future I had and he told me he would not offer me a new contract, so we agreed it was best if I moved on."

Ramsay now hopes to rebuild his career at Dover alongside several former Seagulls. Phil Stant and Tony Browne both play for the Kent club, while Clive Walker is boss Neville Southall's No. 2.

He was due to come across another familar face on his debut today, with on-loan Albion midfielder Geoff Pitcher expected to feature for rivals Woking.

"I am there until the end of the season with a view to something more permanent," said Ramsay. "It's a new challenge and first team football.

"I know I have dropped down a few divisions, but maybe it can kick start my career.

"I've got Phil Stant and Keith Scott alongside me up front. They've had a lot of League experience and I feel I can learn a lot from them.

"I learned a lot at Brighton as well from the likes of Lee Steele, Gary Hart and Bobby Zamora, even though he is younger than me!

"I want to build my confidence up and hopefully be spotted by someone else. I definitely want to get back into League football, no matter how long it takes.

"I will be giving it my best shot week in and week out. A lot of lower division clubs look at Conference football and who knows I could make it back into the League with Dover, not this season but perhaps next."

Ramsay made 35 League appearances for Albion, the majority of them as a substitute, and his only goals came in the same game. He scored twice against Macclesfield at Withdean in March 2000.

It is always sad when a youth team product falls by the wayside, particularly if he is a local lad.

Martin Hinshelwood, Albion's director of youth, said: "When they come back pre-season everyone starts from scratch again. If you start on the back foot it's very hard to get to the front again and I think Scott suffered from that a little bit.

"Nobody is ever going to be able to take away from him playing for Brighton's first team. How many kids would like to do that, even just once?

"Hopefully Scott will go away now and bounce back if he wants to. He has the ability, otherwise he would not have been taken on as a pro in the first place.

"Sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward again and I hope that's what Scott does."