Gary Hart today hailed a testimonial granted by Albion to accompany his new one-year contract as a "massive achievement".

Next season will be Hart's tenth year with the Seagulls after making just enough appearances last season to trigger an appearance-related clause guaranteeing him a new deal.

The 30-year-old utility player will be following in the testimonial footsteps of his close friend Kerry Mayo, who also had the promise of a twelve-month contract secured by the number of games he played last term.

Hart said: "I won't do anything until Kerry's is out of the way. I don't want to take away any of the limelight from him but it is a massive achievement for me, something I never dreamed of happening. I owe the club everything."

Hart's Albion career looked over in February and March when he was left out by manager Dean Wilkins.

He admitted: "My future was uncertain. I did not know whether I was going to be at the club or not.

"Luckily I got to the appearances I needed and I have got to thank the gaffer, because he gave me the opportunity to prove I can still be a good player for the club."

Meanwhile, injury-plagued defender Adam Hinshelwood has agreed a one-year contract with a year's option but Albion are sweating on an answer from French midfielder Alexis Bertin.

Wilkins revealed: "We are still waiting to hear from him. We know we are facing competition, from abroad as well.

"We have made him an offer and he knows we want him to stay. There is not a lot more we can do."

Paul Reid's future will be resolved once he returns from Australia later this month, while long-term broken ankle victim Charlie Oatway is on course to be fit for pre-season training at the start of July.

Wilkins said: "He has got a couple of months, July and August, to try and get match fit. He is going well at the moment and looks like joining in from day one but, because of the nature of the injury he's had, it is literally day by day."

Youngster Wes Fogden, awarded a one-year contract after recovering from a benign spine tumour, will be sent out on loan from the start of next season so that he is playing matches.

Former Albion greats Steve Foster, Jimmy Case and Gerry Ryan have been signed up to join goal-scoring legends Bobby Zamora and Peter Ward in an all-star match prior to Mayo's testimonial against Reading at Withdean on July 28.

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