In almost 30 years of supporting the Albion I cannot remember a time when I have felt as low as I did at the end of the game on Saturday.

Like thousands of others I am passionate about the Albion and want only what is best for them and that was one of the primary reasons that I suggested the '40 Note Fund' in last week's column.

Before Dick Knight starts ripping out his hair claiming this is nothing more than my attempt to further my media career, can I point out I haven't really got a media career to advance. I have had a very successful and rewarding career in the funeral profession for the last 15 years which I enjoy and hope to do for a further 25 years.

My media work is my hobby, and through this column and my SCR broadcasts I am in a privileged position to share my opinions with the Argus readers and the SCR listeners.

Almost as soon as last Wednesday's Argus hit the streets I was informed Dick had taken umbrage over my suggestion that the fund should be independent from the club.

So just which bit of 'This is in no way a slight against Dick Knight or anyone else at the Albion' didn't he understand?

Apparently my idea was not thought out properly. I made a sweeping statement before checking the facts. Is that something along the lines of saying 'There will be £2million for team strengthening regardless of what Division we are in?'

The proposed target of £160,000 is unrealistic, although it was more a projection of 4,000 x £40 than a target. So says the Chairman and a number of supporters which is strangely ironic given that one of the supporters who agrees with Dick is the same person, and a man whom I mistakenly thought was a friend, who stood up in Chapmans bar in Worthing in 1995 and suggested the fans start a fund to raise £7million to buy the Goldstone from Bill Archer.

I think the words I'm looking for are pot, kettle and black.

I would like to thank everybody who has offered support to the idea. Things are moving behind the scenes and launch information will appear in the Argus very soon.

I don't know if it will work, I'm prepared to put my money in but I also respect any Albion season ticket holder or supporter who decides not to. One of the many e-mails I received last week was from a south stand season ticket holder who said Knight and the club had squandered the initial season ticket money so why should he dip into to his pocket again to try and make up for their mismanagement?

Not my opinion, but it is a free country!

If the whole thing is a damp squib then I would suggest that any money collected is given direct to Vic Bragg and Les Rogers for new equipment at the school of excellence. They do a very important job in developing the Brighton players of tomorrow. Failing that, it could go to some other Albion related cause.

The only way public opinion can be gauged is by getting it off the ground. If it fails then at least we can say we gave it a go.

I still have the utmost respect for Dick and have invited him onto the SCR phone-in after the Bradford game although if it's a case of unlucky 13 for the Albion I won't blame him for not showing up.

Fancy starting the season off all over again with 9,500 seats at Withdean and £9million in the bank?

EA Sports have sent me three copies of 'Total Club Manager 2003' on PC (rrp £39.99) and three lucky readers will get to do just that by answering the following question.

Which Albion player was in goal at Selhurst Park in 1989 and on the bench last Saturday?

Please send your answer to 'Hart of the Matter EA Competition' Sports Desk, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton BN1 8AR. Closing date for entries is Friday November 8.