Sport News Blog

So the defeat at Southend pretty much signals the end for Brighton's season.

It's been one that hasn't been straight forward at all. We've had plenty of moaning along the way including many debates over our management (more earlier on in the year), the saga of selling our captain Dean Hammond, our early January blip in which we lost to Mansfield in the cup, unusually low home attendances, the high profile departures of Bas Savage and George O'Callaghan along with plenty of other issues that have arisen.

However, i'd like to think that a number of Brighton fans will look upon this season as one of transition in which we have improved generally. Last season wasn't great but this year we have found our feet and have put in some good performances. Our mainly youthful squad is that extra year older and with that experience has come more consistent performances. At times some of the football that has been played by us has been surprisingly good for a third tier side.

We are building a decent squad and have brought in more experienced players such as Nicky Forster, Andrew Whing and Steven Thomson who are all players that want to be here. Along the way we have also attracted a few big loan players such as Matt Richards. Not all of them have proved to be as good though and signings like Jonny Dixon and Shane McFaul haven't quite made it yet and we're not sure whether they will or not just yet.

The management owe it to the players to start preparing for next season immediately. It would be nice to see one or two of the fringe players get a chance to prove themselves one last time. On top of that it would be good to get the futures of the eighteen out of contract players sorted a.s.a.p in order for us to spend as much time as possible looking for new signings.

The scouting system under Barry Lloyd is working well and we look far more active in the transfer market now. We must make positive improvements to the side. It would be nice to see us make moves for some of our on loan players too - Matt Richards and Ian Westlake are both out of favour at their contracted clubs and would be good signings for us.

All I hope we can do now is build positively for next season where I am sure we will mount a strong play off challenge.

The last four games are important. There's still 12 points to play for and at the very least a top half finish is what the players owe to themselves and to the fans.

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