Albion midfielder Geoff Pitcher has joined Adam Virgo on a one-month loan deal away from Withdean.

He could make a rapid return to Sussex after joining Dagenham and Redbridge who face Crawley in the FA Cup second round at the Broadfield Stadium next Saturday.

The Seagulls have given him permission to play in the cup tie which will make him ineligible for Albion when they join the competition in January.

Pitcher has struggled to make an impact at first team level since Micky Adams signed him for £25,000 from Kingstonian two summers ago.

The pint-sized playmaker's last senior appearance was 11 months ago and he spent the latter part of last season on loan to another Conference side, Woking.

Pitcher is the fourth fringe member of Albion's squad to go out on loan.

Young centre half Adam Virgo has teamed up with ex-Seagull Neil McNab at Exeter for a month.

Utility player Shaun Wilkinson is with Chesterfield for six weeks. Midfielder Steve Melton launched a month's loan with Peter Taylor's Hull last Saturday with a view to a permanent move.

Meanwhile, Albion front runner Paul Brooker is looking forward to the club clinching the loan signings of Graham Barrett and Steve Sidwell from Arsenal for the rest of the season.

He said: "Graham and Steve are both quality players.

"We have seen a lot of Graham's quality in previous games and Steve is starting to score a few goals from midfield, which we need."