Albion manager Mark McGhee warned today it will be tough to bounce straight back up again from League One after relegation.

McGhee is an expert at getting clubs promoted from the third tier of English football.

He guided the Seagulls up in his first season via the play-offs in 2003-04, having previously won promotion from the same division with Reading and Millwall.

Now Albion, relegated in 2002-03, find themselves back at the same level as when McGhee took charge two-and-a-half years ago after Monday's home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday confirmed demotion from the Championship.

The Seagulls were involved in the play-offs two seasons ago with Hartlepool, Swindon and Bristol City.

McGhee said: "Anyone who thinks it's just a case of going down and bouncing straight back have to look at Hartlepool and Swindon and see where they are.

"It is going to require a great deal of discipline, a great deal of resolve from me, the chairman and everyone to strengthen where we can.

"It's going to require a real effort by the players. I've told the young players it's going to be a long summer for them.

"They are going to be working through May to try to improve as much as they can between now and the first week in August."

McGhee will have to pick up young players like Joel Lynch unaccustomed to the taste of failure.

"Some of them will probably feel they have let people down," McGhee said. "I don't think they have to feel like that and I'll be trying to convince them over the summer that's not the case."

Guy Butters is doubtful for Albion's final away game at Wolves on Saturday after limping off in the closing stages against Sheffield and McGhee could give rookie midfielder Doug Loft his full debut at Molineux in the absence of the banned Dean Hammond.

"I think we have to look at people like Loft getting a flavour of it," he said.