Albion fans fretting about the impact of Colin Calderwood's exit as assistant manager on the automatic promotion challenge need not fear.
In fact, the impending arrival of Paul Trollope back alongside Chris Hughton could make the Seagulls even better.
That is the message from somebody who should know, Bob Booker.
Calderwood's departure to a so-called bigger club in Aston Villa less than halfway through the season is similar to a situation Micky Adams faced as Albion manager 16 years ago.
Back then Adams had a trusted ally by his side in Alan Cork, much like Calderwood's close relationship with Hughton.
Cork left to become manager of Cardiff and Booker took his place. The result? Albion romped to the League Two title, winning the league by ten points from....Cardiff.
"I don't think it will," he said. "The players will be wondering who they are going to get but Chris will just keep it going. He'll have a good idea who he wants. It will be someone he knows and can trust.
"It will probably be a little bit of a worry to him but he will deal with it and the players will just adapt to a new person.
"At the end of the day it could work in a positive manner, be just that little bit of a lift. They will all be on their toes again trying to impress the new assistant manager."
Hughton's next No.2, as first revealed on The Argus website on Thursday night, is expected to be Trollope.
He worked with Hughton at Birmingham and Norwich, has also been a manager at Bristol Rovers and, most recently, Cardiff and was promoted twice to the Premier League as a midfielder with Fulham and Derby County.
Booker said: "He's done it before, worked as an assistant manager and he has been a manager. He has the reputation of being a good coach, so that bodes well.
"I think it will be a smooth transition. If the club was struggling a little bit and the players were struggling you might wonder how it is going to affect things.
"I think it will just carry on. He'll want it to carry on. It is a big thing but it's something Paul Trollope can cope with, because he's been there and done it."
Original article
In fact, the impending arrival of Paul Trollope back alongside Chris Hughton could make the Seagulls even better.
That is the message from somebody who should know, Bob Booker.
Calderwood's departure to a so-called bigger club in Aston Villa less than halfway through the season is similar to a situation Micky Adams faced as Albion manager 16 years ago.
Back then Adams had a trusted ally by his side in Alan Cork, much like Calderwood's close relationship with Hughton.
Cork left to become manager of Cardiff and Booker took his place. The result? Albion romped to the League Two title, winning the league by ten points from....Cardiff.
- Albion will be fine without Calderwood
- Villa could be main threat to Albion's Premier League dream
- Albion closing in on new assistant manager
- Albion confirm Calderwood departure
- Hughton admits Albion did not do enough to beat Villa
"I don't think it will," he said. "The players will be wondering who they are going to get but Chris will just keep it going. He'll have a good idea who he wants. It will be someone he knows and can trust.
"It will probably be a little bit of a worry to him but he will deal with it and the players will just adapt to a new person.
"At the end of the day it could work in a positive manner, be just that little bit of a lift. They will all be on their toes again trying to impress the new assistant manager."
Hughton's next No.2, as first revealed on The Argus website on Thursday night, is expected to be Trollope.
He worked with Hughton at Birmingham and Norwich, has also been a manager at Bristol Rovers and, most recently, Cardiff and was promoted twice to the Premier League as a midfielder with Fulham and Derby County.
Booker said: "He's done it before, worked as an assistant manager and he has been a manager. He has the reputation of being a good coach, so that bodes well.
"I think it will be a smooth transition. If the club was struggling a little bit and the players were struggling you might wonder how it is going to affect things.
"I think it will just carry on. He'll want it to carry on. It is a big thing but it's something Paul Trollope can cope with, because he's been there and done it."
Original article