Albion stalwart Richard Carpenter warned Leon Knight today there will be no hiding place at Swansea.

Carpenter is "not bothered" about Knight's switch from the Seagulls to the Welshmen for £125,000.

He is concentrating instead on playing a pivotal part in Albion's fight for Championship survival now that he is fit again and his regular midfield partner Charlie Oatway has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Carpenter, signed six years ago by Micky Adams, manager of today's FA Cup visitors Coventry, knows how demanding Welsh fans can be. He had two seasons at Cardiff before joining the Seagulls.

Asked about the enigmatic Knight's departure, Carpenter declared: "I'm not bothered. Leon's Leon and at the end of the day he has got himself a decent move. Swansea are a good side.

"Leon's got great ability and nobody has ever doubted the fact that he is a good player.

"Unfortunately, somewhere along the line he's lost himself a little bit and probably a change will do him the world of good.

"Put it this way, there's no hiding place down there. The fans, as passionate as they are, expect players to give no less than 100 per cent.

"If they feel people are pulling the wool over their eyes they won't accept it."

Manager Mark McGhee wants to sign a replacement for broken ankle victim Oatway during the FROM BACK PAGE January transfer window but he is also placing his faith in Carpenter, 33, and 36-year-old vice-captain Guy Butters as the wise old heads of the side.

"I'd like to think I have a pivotal role anyway, being an experienced pro," Carpenter said. "There's me and Guy but we've got a lot of young boys and we've got to pull together.

"Hopefully one or two can come in and help us out and we can push in the right direction."

Carpenter had been sidelined for two months with a foot problem when he took over from the stricken Oatway four minutes into the Boxing Day victory at home to QPR.

The former Fulham and Gillingham powerhouse went on to feature in Albion's hectic hat-trick of defeats against Luton, Millwall and at Southampton on Monday, where Kerry Mayo was his surprise goalscoring sidekick in the centre of the park with Dean Hammond suspended.

"It's great to get back playing but obviously the way results have gone has been disappointing," Carpenter said.

"After being out for eight or nine weeks and playing only 45 minutes in the reserves it did come as a bit of a shock.

"Unfortunately, Charlie got injured and I was pressed into action sooner rather than later.

"I feel I've got stronger as the games have gone on. It's just a shame we didn't pick up the results we wanted."