Players and managers come and go. It has always been the way in football.

It is only when they have left and return with another club that you really gauge what supporters thought of them.

On Friday, Micky Adams returns to Withdean Stadium with Leicester City. I've no doubt he will receive an amazing welcome because he is an Albion legend.

When Albion have secured their place in Division One at the end of this season, Steve Coppell will also have written his place in club folklore. But Adams is already there, set in stone, and we're talking chapters rather than pages.

Even if Leicester win on Friday, it won't alter the respect everyone has for him.

What a shame the same cannot be said of John Gregory. When Derby visit Withdean next season, he will get the reception he deserves, assuming he's still in a job.

In fact, I cannot think of any other former Albion figure who would get a worse reception. Even the jackpot man displaying a picture of Justin Fashanu on his board would get polite applause in comparison.

He was dismissive about Albion supporters in a television interview on Saturday after Derby's victory at Pride Park, which was like pouring petrol on the dying embers of a fire.

His involvement in the Gareth Barry transfer dispute changed our view of him. It's regrettable because, as fans will recall, Gregory was one of Albion's summer signings in 1979 as we prepared for our first season in the top flight. He served the side well for two years, helping to keep the club in Division One. Sadly, he won't be remembered for that.

Even after the Barry saga, Gregory could have salvaged his reputation among Albion supporters if he'd made the right noises. He could have said nothing, rather than slate chairman Dick Knight in public, but Gregory is to diplomacy what King Herod was to baby-sitting.

It hasn't always been like that. I recall him being warmly applauded by the Albion travelling support in December, 1988, at Fratton Park for a pre-Christmas derby against Pompey shortly before, as the then fledgling manager got the flick from his chairman namesake Jim.

It's sad a man who earned his livelihood from Albion's paying fans now feels this way.

It's certainly the end of an era down at the Dripping Pan as former Lewes assistant manager Billy Nixon retires to sunnier climes in Spain.

Former policeman Billy, dubbed by close friends as the 'Defective Detective', will certainly be remembered as one of Sussex non-league football's more colourful characters.

While I wish him and his new bride well in their travels, the Sussex soccer scene will be a poorer place without him.

True he wasn't afraid to speak his mind, telling match officials exactly, aided with some very choice adjectives, what he thought, but it was just a shame the people in authority at the County FA didn't actually take the time and trouble to sit down and listen to some of his forward thinking ideas.

Has the speculation about getting the sack at Leeds got to El Tel? I saw him being interviewed on Sky after Bolton Wanderers had presented him with soccer's answer to a stay of execution and he looked about 70.

It must be truly 'grim up North' and cold to boot because it seems to be playing havoc with his complexion and his hair's getting greyer by the game.

I wonder if Terry, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, will be the first Premiership manager to sign a sponsorship deal with Clearasil or Grecian 2000?