Albion stalwart Paul Watson is confident the appointment of a new manager in the next 48 hours will spark the team back into life.

Bob Booker's caretaker reign closed with a third defeat in a row for the Seagulls as Stockport ended their unbeaten record at Withdean this season with a 1-0 victory.

Watson, returning to league action for the first time since August, said: "When a new manager comes in then normally you get a good reaction.

"Everybody seems to find an extra five or ten per cent from somewhere. Hopefully things will be sorted out this week and we can get back on the right track.

"It was disappointing that Steve (Coppell) left. We had a good rapport with him and I think he enjoyed his work as much as we did working with him, but we've had a few managers here now so it hasn't really affected us much at all.

"Training wise, Bob Booker and Dean White used to take us most of the time anyway, with Steve just watching."

Former Millwall supremo Mark McGhee, Torquay's head coach Leroy Rosenior, Oldham chief Iain Dowie and ex-Southampton boss Stuart Gray are vying for the right to become Albion's eighth manager in six years.

Two of the new man's first three games will be away from home. The Seagulls visit Peterborough in the League on Saturday and Third Division Lincoln in the FA Cup on November 8.

Boston, also from Division Three, come to Withdean in the LDV Vans Trophy four days earlier.

Booker, who withdrew from the managerial race on Friday, said: "Peterborough and Lincoln away are difficult games, especially on the back of three defeats.

"Hopefully we will get a response as you normally do and as Stockport did.

"Although we were beaten I was pleased Sammy McIlroy got a result for his team. He really needed that."

Watson, plagued by sore foot arches since pre-season, will be hoping to keep the rightback role under the new manager after dislodging Adam Hinshelwood.

"We all feel the performance was a lot better than it had been over the last couple of weeks," Watson said.

"We have played worse and won, but we have got to cut out the sloppy bits which are costing us goals.

Rosenior, interviewed by Albion chairman Dick Knight for two hours in London last Thursday, saw his Torquay side hammered 4-0 at Boston on Saturday.

Dowie's Oldham drew 1-1 at home with Bournemouth who are behind the second-placed Seagulls on goal difference.