ALBION manager Jeff Wood is adamant that Ian Culverhouse can cope with the dual demands of playing and coaching.

The Seagulls' cultured skipper and sweeper took his first training session this week in his new role as reserve team boss.

Kevin Keegan is simultaneously trying to steer England through their Euro 2000 qualifiers and Fulham up to Division One.

Now Culverhouse is splitting himself in half as well, leading Albion's promotion push on the pitch and passing on his vast experience to the reserves off it.

Wood revealed: "We have been nursing Ian through training anyway. We don't want him flying about making tackles because we need him on Saturdays.

"It's a case of easing him through, as a lot of clubs do. When I was at Charlton Keith Peacock never trained. It's not a problem if players have good ability and keep themselves in shape."

Former Manchester United, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland defender Paul McGrath was a classic example of a player who rarely trained due to his dodgy knees. Culverhouse falls into a similar category.

The 34-year-old has a bad ankle, but that hasn't stopped him performing to a consistently high standard for Albion this season.

Culverhouse's coaching appointment completes a remarkable few months with the Seagulls.

The season was only ten days old when former boss Brian Horton signed the ex-Norwich and Swindon stalwart from Vauxhall Conference newcomers Kingstonian on a month-to-month contract.

Culverhouse became an instant success as Albion's last line of defence with his composure and intelligent reading of the game.

Horton, however, preferred to play 4-4-2 and his dislike of the sweeper system meant Culverhouse was reluctantly released.

A3-1 home defeat by Mansfield changed all that. Culverhouse was back just five days later.

Horton also handed him the captaincy in the absence through injury of Gary Hobson and then a contract for the rest of the season.

Culverhouse has been an ever-present ever since until this Saturday's showdown at the Priestfield Stadium against Leyton Orient, when he serves a one-match suspension.

The former England youth international and veteran of well over 400 League appearances has now had his playing contract extended further as well, through to the summer of 2000.

"This is a good opportunity for me and I am looking forward to it," he said.

"It's the first chance I've had to coach and it's something I wanted to do anyway when my career finished. It has just come at a nice time.

"It has been an unbelieavble turnaround for me, but the lads have worked tremendously hard and I have just been part of a side battling for each other."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.