Brighton and Hove Albion today launched a £2 million appeal to keep the club "alive and kicking".

The cash-strapped Seagulls want supporters to dig deep into their pockets while they wait for a final verdict on their stadium plans at Falmer.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is reopening the public inquiry into the Falmer project on January 11 so seven alternative sites can be looked at again.

Albion are confident they will get the green light but they cannot generate funds for the £47 million scheme until it is approved.

In the meantime they need to raise £2.3 million to cover a shortfall accumulated during the seven years since chairman Dick Knight and his board took control of the club from Bill Archer.

Albion are writing to every adult supporter who has watched a game in the past five years, including the 30,000 fans who travelled to Cardiff in May for the play-off final, to outline the financial crisis and seek their help.

Mr Knight said: "If everyone we have written to was to respond by making a donation of just £100, either in a single payment or by standing order over a year, we would raise the money we need.

"For the sake of this great club, we are asking our supporters to help keep the Albion alive and kicking and help us to secure the club's future now."

Fans donating more than £100 will be entered into a prize draw for five season tickets for life.

Donors giving more than £250 will also have their name on a seat in Albion's new stadium.

Mr Knight said: "Since the new board took over in 1997 the directors and shareholders have raised more than £7 million but this has not been enough to cover the costs we have incurred.

"While we were at Gillingham and each year at Withdean we have suffered trading losses.

"We spent £2.5 million converting Withdean, the cost of getting rid of Bill Archer was £700,000 and the planning application and public inquiry into Falmer has cost £2.5 million.

"The costs of running the club since 1997 amount to more than £9 million, which means we have a cash deficit of just over £2 million which we need to raise now to stabilise the club's position."

The fund-raising appeal has the backing of former TV sports presenter and lifelong Albion supporter Des Lynam.

He said: "The business of running a football club is tough and getting tougher but the Albion are in a league of their own with unique problems.

"It's a miracle the club has survived and I urge all Seagulls fans to rally round the board and help the club at this crucial time."