Players are often re-signed by managers when they move on.

A number of the Albion squad featured under former boss Micky Adams at different clubs.

Few, however, are afforded the type of individual attention with a former England coach enjoyed by new signing Daniel Webb.

David Webb's son has been reunited with Albion manager Peter Taylor following one-to-one sessions which helped shape his football future.

Webb junior was at Southend's centre of excellence when Taylor provided the personal touch.

"He took me a few times for individual sessions when I was a bit younger," the Seagulls' latest capture explained.

"My dad and me didn't really want me to go and play for a professional club at a young age. A lot of kids do that and then drop out.

"Peter wasn't really doing much at the time, so he offered to do it to keep his interest in the game and it obviously helped me a lot.

"He did a few sessions with me about once a week for a little while, working on my fitness and touch and I really enjoyed it. He is a great coach and it was great to learn under him."

Taylor tracked Webb's progress, culminating in his loan switch to the Seagulls from Southend for the rest of the season.

The 18-year-old will then sign permanently next summer for a prearranged fee of £25,000, with the Shrimpers receiving a sell-on percentage of his next two transfers.

The deal was briefly delayed at the end of last week when Southend demanded a 30 per cent cut of Webb's next FOUR moves.

Webb and his dad, a rugged centre-half best remembered for scoring Chelsea's winner in the 1970 FA Cup final replay against Leeds, watched Albion progress to the third round against Rushden and Diamonds at Withdean last Saturday.

"I'm really looking forward to it down here," he said. "The manager has been tracking me for a while and since my dad left Southend the new manager (Rob Newman) wasn't playing me.

"When a big team like Brighton come in you cannot really say no."

Being the son of a famous footballing father has its plusses and minuses. He was a trainee at Southampton, another of his father's former clubs, but the sniping started once Webb linked up with Webb at Roots Hall.

"When I went to Southend it was a little bit hard," said Daniel. "The players were fine, but you get a few dodgy supporters saying silly things. You learn to live with that and it was good experience.

"He gives me advice, but he never shouts and he's not a pushy dad. When I started off I tried being a centre-half but gradually worked my way up the pitch.

"I am nowhere near as good a defender as he was. I never saw him play but I've seen videos. You could get away with a lot more in those days than you can now!"

The well-educated Webb is already counting the cost of youthful exuberance with modern-day referees.

He arrived at Albion with seven yellow cards to his name. He put his foot in it in another respect in Southend's mud-strewn visit to Withdean on New Year's Day last season.

"It was one of the most physically draining games I have ever played in," he said. "It should never have been on. We won 2-0, but I think Brighton had an off day.

"It's a funny sort of ground. You don't really notice the fans. At Roots Hall the crowd are right on top of you. At Withdean you don't realise there are 7,000 people, but it's a big pitch and the surface is a lot better than it was then."

If Webb turns out to be half as prolific as Bobby Zamora, Albion will have unearthed another bargain. For the time being his ambitions do not extend beyond forcing his way into the side with the Seagulls' goalscoring king.

"I trained with him for the first time on Monday and his finishing was different class," Webb said. "He will score nine times out of ten.

"It would be great to play with him. It looks like he is going to be the main man for a while and rightly so."

Taylor likens Webb's style of play to that of Teddy Sheringham.

"I am not looking at him being the best thing since sliced bread now to win us promotion," he said. "I think he will be a good player for us next year and in future years. If I hadn't done the deal now somebody else would have."

Webb is eligible for Albion's FA Cup third round tie against Preston at Withdean on January 5.

Tickets go on sale to away supporters scheme members from Tuesday and on general sale from Wednesday, with the club anticipating a sell-out.