Albion fans have been urged not to berate the club's former captain and current Port Vale boss Brian Horton.

Saturday's Withdean showdown against Vale will be the first time Horton has been back since quitting the Seagulls in January 1999 to take charge of the Potteries club.

Some fans are vowing to give him a rough time, but Supporters' Club chairman Tim Carder believes Horton should be remembered as an inspirational skipper and the manager who brought credibility back to the Seagulls.

Carder said: "Brian Horton took over when Albion were 23rd in the Third Division and playing in front of tiny crowds at Gillingham. He spent virtually nothing on players, yet left us in seventh place. Who knows what would have happened had he stayed?

"There is only one real loyalty in football, that from fans to their club. 'Nobby' did what he felt was right for him and his family at the time rather than the Albion, although I can't help feeling it was a mistake career-wise.

"I will remember him as the greatest Albion captain I have seen and as a manager who helped restore self-respect in this football club. That, to my mind, does not warrant a barracking."

Horton said: "I don't have to say how I feel about the club. I am delighted they are doing well. Had circumstances been different then who knows, but during that time we were playing at Gillingham and didn't know when we were coming back to Brighton.

"The supporters are fantastic and I am not just saying that to creep. I have got no qualms about coming back at all. In fact I am looking forward to it."

Vale, relegated from the First Division in Horton's first full season in charge, finished 11th last term when they also lifted the LDV Vans Trophy.

They are currently 17th, 14 points adrift of Albion.

"We are on a good run ourselves and we are only five points off the play-offs," warned Horton. "I've had to rebuild again since winning the LDV.

"Some good, experienced players had to go for financial reasons, but one or two of our young players are building reputations for themselves."

Cardiff squandered a chance to move into a play-off place last night with a 3-0 defeat at Bury which lifted the home side off the foot of the table.

More on the Seagulls at thisisthealbion.co.uk