Brighton & Hove Albion

Blayney unlikely to join Brighton
Brighton boss Mark McGhee is unlikely to sign Southampton goalkeeper Alan Blayney on a permanent basis. The 23-year-old spent the end of last season on loan at Albion but McGhee feels he may be too expensive to keep. He told the Brighton Evening Argus: "I have never been confident we will sign Alan because I have always felt he may need more money than we can give him. "We could do what we did last year to save us money, and go with Michel Kuipers and one of the young lads." John Sullivan and Richard Martins are the teenage shot-stoppers waiting in the wings for their chance.

Leeds complete swoop for Harding
Leeds United have completed the signing of Brighton defender Dan Harding. The 21-year-old England Under-21 international has signed a three year-contract at Elland Road. Harding's contract at the Withdean Stadium expires on 1 July and it is expected a Football League tribunal will set a fee of around £250,000. Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell said: "There has been major interest from other clubs and we are delighted to have Dan on board." He added: "We had been talking with him and the signs were good, but you are never sure until the deal has been done. "Dan is a young player with plenty of potential. He wants to develop his career with us and I'm looking forward to working with him."

Seagulls face compensation battle
Chief executive Martin Perry insists Brighton will battle hard to get the best possible deal over defender Dan Harding's move to Leeds United. The 21-year-old is out of contract, but the Seagulls are entitled to compensation as he is under 24. "If we don't feel that Leeds are offering us sufficient compensation, we will go to the tribunal," Perry told BBC Southern Counties Radio. "It's our job to get the best deal we can get." Harding had been close to agreeing a new deal at Withdean in March. Perry added: "He had confirmed he was going to sign his contract, but didn't do so, although it was on the table to sign at any time."

McGhee says Mayo has crucial role
Brighton manager Mark McGhee reckons Kerry Mayo will have a key role after the exit of Dan Harding to Leeds. "Dan Harding going should be good news for Kerry," McGhee told The Argus. "We won't rush out to sign a left-back until we see how Kerry shapes up. "I said to Kerry at the end of the season his stamina is second to none but his power and dynamic fitness has not always been as good as it should. "I've asked him to slim down, to really come back as fit as he has ever been."

Eastwood not for sale - Southend
Southend insist star striker Freddy Eastwood will not be joining Brighton, Nottingham Forest or any other club. The 21-year-old, whose 24 goals helped the Shrimpers win promotion, has been tipped to leave Roots Hall this summer. But deputy chairman Geoffrey King said: "He is not for sale. I had two calls within 10 minutes saying offers of £500,000 and £750,000 had been made. "At that rate, it could have reached £1m. Neither offer had been made and, as I say, he is not for sale." Eastwood himself has ruled out joining Forest, saying: "If I did leave, it would be for a Premiership or Championship side."

McGhee will not pay over the odds
Mark McGhee insists Brighton will not pay over the odds for a new striker. The Seagulls have extra money to play with after winning £250,000 to spend on a new player in a competition - but boss McGhee says it will not be wasted. He told BBC SCR: "I'm not going to be rushed, I will spend it when I feel 100% sure we've got the right player. "We have had offers turned down and players we are interested in have been priced at £1m. We'll only pay what we think is value."

Brighton set to off-load striker
Brighton manager Mark McGhee has hinted that a striker is likely to leave the club before the start of next season. "Mark McCammon, Jake Robinson, Leon Knight and Maheta Molango are a certain type of centre forward," McGhee told the Argus. "Of the other four something has got to give. If we bring in another one then one of them is going to have to be sacrificed at some stage. "The order I'd put them in at the moment is Leon, Jake, Mark and Maheta." Brighton supporter Aaron Berry won £250,000 for the club to spend in the transfer market - and if McGhee uses it to buy a forward one of the current quartet is likely to be sold.

Brighton hopeful of Harding deal
Brighton chairman Dick Knight is hopeful Leeds will make an improved offer for defender Dan Harding. The 21-year-old has already agreed personal terms with the Elland Road outfit and will complete his move when his contract expires on 30 June. But the two clubs are yet to agree a fee and face a transfer tribunal. "I spoke last with the chief executive of Leeds last Friday. He made an offer which is not acceptable to us," Knight told the club's website. "He may well come back to us with another offer in the next couple of days, but equally that may not happen, in which case it will go to a tribunal. "That tribunal can't take place until after 1 July, but we will be pressing the league for that to take place as quickly as possible." Harding had been close to agreeing a new deal at Withdean in March. Chief executive Martin Perry earlier said: "He had confirmed he was going to sign his contract, but didn't do so, although it was on the table to sign at any time."

Brighton rule out Blayney signing
Brighton have ruled out a move for Southampton keeper Alan Blayney who ended the season on loan at the club. "We would take him in a minute, but they require a fee and we can't afford a fee for a keeper at this stage," boss Mark McGhee told the club's website. First-choice stopper Michel Kuipers is progressing well after surgery, as are Adam Virgo and Rochard Carpenter. "They are all fine," McGhee added. "Michel's flying and will have no problem coming back for pre-season."

McGhee cautious over Hinshelwood
Brighton boss Mark McGhee will not risk rushing Adam Hinshelwood back from his cruciate knee ligament injury. Albion's physio Malcolm Stuart believes the 21-year-old defender could be back by the end of October, after sustaining the injury at the end of March. McGhee told the Brighton Evening Argus: "It is great news but I am also very cautious. I need to be convinced he is ready before I allow him to come back. "This is a career-threatening injury, particularly if it goes again." Hinshelwood, who was called into the England Under-21 squad last season, feels he is making good progress. "I am just getting the movement back and hopefully I will start on light weights next week," he added. "I was told to start with it would be Christmas before I am back so anything sooner will be a bonus. "I want to be 100% when I come back, ready to make an impact. I don't want to be back in with Malcolm again."

Parkin will think over next move
Swindon striker Sam Parkin says he will take his time before deciding which Championship club to join this summer. Parkin revealed he has already spoken to Watford, while Ipswich, Norwich and Brighton have also tabled bids for the prolific 24-year-old marksman. "Things are a bit up in the air at the moment but I am hoping to speak to all interested parties," he told BBC Sport. "But it may take a few days and I will not make a hasty decision. I've waited a long time for this opportunity." Ipswich boss Joe Royle sees the former Chelsea trainee as the ideal replacement for top scorer Shefki Kuqi, who is set to leave Portman Road. Parkin scored 24 goals last season and Royle said: "Sam was top of our list if Shefki went. "But our interest is still very much at an early stage and beyond that I don't want to say too much. "The chairman is talking to Swindon and it is an ongoing situation, but by the end of the week I hope to have a much clearer idea of our strikeforce for next season." Parkin, who turned down a new two-year contract with the Robins last week, has just returned from a three-week holiday in Australia but says his transfer was never far from his mind. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about it," he added. "The idea was to have a break and get away from it all but I spent the majority of time either on the phone or the internet trying to keep up with developments back home."

Ipswich win the race for Parkin
Ipswich have won the race for Swindon striker Sam Parkin. Neither club have disclosed the fee for Parkin, 24, but it may be in the region of £750,000. Town beat Norwich, Watford and Brighton in the race for Parkin, who - after the arrival of Reading's Nicky Forster - is the club's second signing this week. Boss Joe Royle told Ipswich's website: "Sam has real talent, he has a fantastic scoring record and has earned the right to step up to this division." Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks gave his backing to Royle's team-building efforts to guide the club back into the Premiership. Sheepshanks said: "I view the signing of Sam Parkin as a real coup for the club. "It's a measure of the esteem in which Joe Royle and the club are held. "We were particularly keen to sign a younger player of Sam's proven ability but who has the potential to improve to the highest level, hopefully with us." Parkin had hinted he was prepared to take his time in making a decision on which club to join. He told BBC Sport:"It may take a few days and I will not make a hasty decision. I've waited a long time for this opportunity." Ipswich boss Joe Royle sees the former Chelsea trainee as the ideal replacement for top scorer Shefki Kuqi, who is set to leave Portman Road. Parkin scored 24 goals last season and Royle said: "Sam was top of our list if Shefki went. Parkin, who turned down a new two-year contract with the Robins last week, had just returned from a three-week holiday in Australia and said his transfer was never far from his mind. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about it," he added. "The idea was to have a break and get away from it all but I spent the majority of time either on the phone or the internet trying to keep up with developments back home."

Booker fearing another struggle
Brighton assistant manager Bob Booker expects another season of struggle for the Seagulls - unless they strengthen their squad in the next few weeks. "We have to be realistic about it, we stayed up by the skin of our teeth," he told the club's official website. "We had some differing form during the season and it's quite obvious we need to strengthen the squad. "So it's going to be tough, but the lads did fantastically well and they're going to take confidence from that."

Yeovil net ex-Brighton star Jones
Former Brighton midfielder Nathan Jones has signed for League One outfit Yeovil on a two-year contract. The 32-year-old was released by the Seagulls at the end of last season after five years with the club. Jones told the Brighton website: "It was a football decision. Yeovil like to play the way I like to play. "They are a fit and talented group who like to work hard and give it a go. And in Gary Johnson they have one of the best managers outside the Premiership." Jones made 128 appearances for Brighton and scored eight goals in the process.

Ex-Saint Dodd seals Brighton move
Former Southampton defender Jason Dodd has signed a one-year deal with Brighton - in a deal brokered by ex-Saints manager Gordon Strachan. Dodd, 34, had been linked with Plymouth where he had a successful loan spell. But he told Southampton's website: "I rang Gordon and asked him about (Albion boss) Mark McGhee - they are good mates and he spoke very highly of him. "Mark said he would love to have me there, and I spoke to their chairman - everything was agreed in half-an-hour." Seagulls boss McGhee told his club's website he was thrilled Dodd opted to move to the Withdean Stadium. "Jason is an excellent addition," McGhee affirmed. "He has played over 400 games at the top level. He is in excellent condition and can play in a lot of positions." Dodd, usually a right-back, played a total of 488 games during a 16-year career with the Saints, but was not offered a new deal this summer. And Brighton chairman Dick Knight says Dodd's Premiership pedigree will be invaluable: "Not only are we bringing in a great player, but a player with lots of experience which will help our young players." Dodd agrees that his experience could be the key to prevent another season of struggle against relegation for the Seagulls. "They don't want to be in that position again. They want a bit of experience from me to help push on," the defender told BBC Southern Counties Radio. "I'm a good organiser and that will be one of my strong points. What you see is what you get. "I want to try and force my way into the side. I also played left-back at Plymouth, while I played centre-half and in midfield at Southampton."

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