Brighton and Hove Albion want to push their capacity past the 9,000 mark as they prepare for an extended stay at Withdean.

The club have applied for permission to continue playing at the ground until 2005 as well as installing extra seats and improving facilities.

They have stressed they still plan to move to Falmer as soon as possible and that improvements at Withdean will benefit users in the future.

Plans being studied by Brighton and Hove City Council include the addition of 1,966 seats to take capacity to 9,002.

There would also be a new two-storey hospitality suite, changing room complex and medical room, plus facilities for athletics clubs who use the venue.

The club plan to provide an extra park and ride scheme at the northern end of Carden Avenue, Hollingbury.

The Seagulls have been playing to sell out crowds on a regular basis since returning to Brighton in 1999 and say they urgently need extra capacity.

They have just 400 tickets to sell to home fans on a match by match basis and chief execuTive Martin Perry said: "With more than 23,000 names on our database of people who have applied for tickets at Withdean the scale of the problem is immense."

Plans, which also include an education study support centre, will be exhibited in the club's hospitality suite at Withdean on Wednesday, August 14 (4-8pm).

Meanwhile Nathan Jones is battling to be fit for the club's return to division One.

The versatile left-sided player has been told he suffered knee ligament damage in Monday's 3-0 friendly win at Bognor.

Jones limped off after a clash in the second half and was initially thought to have suffered nothing more serious than a blow to the shin.

Further examination has revealed ligament damage and he could be out for two to three weeks.

He will definitely be out of action as the Seagulls step up their preparation for the new campaign with friendlies against professional opposition over the next nine days.

Boss Martin Hinshelwood said: "It's bad news but not as bad as it could have been. Jonah is a quick healer and he doesn't want to miss the start of the season but he will not be playing in next week's games."

The Seagulls go to Cheltenham on Tuesday and Bournemouth a week tomorrow.

Before that they visit old Third Division rivals Leyton Orient tomorrow and hope to give on-trial Croatian defender Marijan Kovacevic a chance to impress.

Kovacevic, who also holds a German passport, warmed up with the side ahead of Wednesday's draw at Gravesend and Northfleet but is awaiting international clearance to play for Albion.

The centre of defence is an area Albion need to strengthen for the coming season and they hope Kovacevic, whose previous clubs include Pierre Littbarski's Duisburg in Germany, will be the answer.

Hinshelwood said he had already identified "one or two" players at other clubs he was keen to sign.

Fans have until next Tuesday to get their postal applications to the club for tickets to see the opening home game of the season.

Coventry City are the first visitors to Withdean on Tuesday, August 13.

The Seagulls have been allocated 3,000 seats for the game at Portsmouth on Saturday, August 31, which is all-ticket for away fans.

They are priced £16 (adults) and £9 (under-16s and senior citizens).

Applications are invited by post only from members of the Away Supporters Scheme (one ticket per member) to the Ticket Office, 5 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3WA.

Envelopes should be clearly marked Portsmouth in the top left hand corner.