Russell Slade wants to put himself in pole position for Falmer – by turning Albion from League One relegation survivors into a top six club.

The new two-year contract agreed by the manager coincides with the final two seasons at Withdean.

But Slade has designs on still being in charge of the Seagulls when they move into their new stadium in August 2011.

He said: “Of course, if I am here, I will not only want to start the job but clearly I’ll want to finish it.

“I think I have got the support to do that. I have the self-belief that I can do that and certainly the backing of the fans, who have been terrific.

“I think, as things stand now, they would like to see that. It’s a good starting point at this stage for everybody.

“There will be difficult times ahead for sure in that two-year spell but ultimately it’s absolutely vital the club goes in the right direction and I am aware of that.

“If I wasn’t in the top six, or the top two, by the end of the two years, I would be extremely disappointed with myself.

“It’s going to be a very tough League but it’s achievable. I’ve done it once at a very modest football club (Yeovil) against the odds. I think the odds are stacked a bit more in my favour this time.”

Slade’s task has been made more difficult by the relegation of Southampton, Charlton and Norwich. Leeds will still be in League One next season as well if they do not win the play-offs but chairman Dick Knight believes Slade can establish himself as the right man to lead Albion at Falmer.

He said: “A two-year contract is very sensible and Russell has got every opportunity, long before the two years is up, for us to be going back to him and offering him a longer contract to take the club into Falmer.

“We start off on a level playing field in League One next season. Russell knows I and the Board want to be at the other end of the table challenging.

“I think that is a reasonable goal. We want to be at the top end of the league next year but, make no bones about it, it’s going to be difficult.

“The league is going to be even more competitive next season with three clubs coming down who have been in the Premiership in the recent past.

“They have got big budgets, big stadia. Our fans will love going to the likes of Southampton, Charlton and Norwich.

“It is interesting also that it is very southern orientated and I think the northern clubs will be even more determined to do well as a result of that.”