Albion boss Steve Coppell was given a hero's welcome on his return to Selhurst Park and similar worship is guaranteed when Steve Gritt visits Withdean this Saturday.

There is no danger of Seagulls supporters ever forgetting the contribution made to the club by Steve Gritt, Mark McGhee's No. 2 at Millwall.

It's Withdean, not the Goldstone, but the manager who secured Football League survival for Albion against seemingly impossible odds six years ago has been looking forward to this particular fixture for months.

"I've been to the ground probably half a dozen times, watching Brighton or their opponents, but this will be the first time I've been back in a coaching or managerial capacity with a first team," Gritt said.

"It will certainly bring back memories. I know there is a lot of interest in me going back there this week, so I will lap it up and make the most of it!

"It's one I have been looking forward to for a long time. As soon as the fixtures came out I looked at this one.

"I always get treated very well when I go back down there for games. I still see one or two old faces and I am looking forward to it immensely.

"I've had quite a successful time since I've been at Millwall. We won the reserve League a few years ago, then when Mark came in the Second Division championship and last season the play-offs, but without a doubt keeping Brighton in the League ranks very highly.

"Having seen what they have gone on to achieve as well, I am very proud to have contributed to the success they've had.

"I'm not saying it's down to me. That has been entirely down to Micky (Adams) and Peter (Taylor), but to go back to what I had to do then under the circumstances at the time makes me very proud. I'm always reminded of it when ever I go down to watch Brighton now."

Albion's last-day escape from relegation at Hereford has assured Gritt of an unbreakable bond with the fans.

That was brought home to him following the death late last year of his teenage daughter Hayley, who lost a long and brave battle against brain tumours.

"When Hayley passed away I got one or two cards and messages from people like Liz Costa (supporters' club vice-chair) and Derek Allen (secretary)," said Gritt.

"That is part of the affection they seem to hold for me down here.

"It was lovely getting them and the amount I did from people in football, people who I certainly didn't expect them from.

"It was nice that people were thinking of us at the time and the little contribution they made to just helping get over it. We have written back to as many people as we could to thank them."

Being so close to tragedy has inevitably had an impact on Gritt's outlook. "It's all about perspectives.

"I was going home or going to a hospital dealing with Hayley. Suddenly shouting and bawling at somebody doesn't seem the right way, doesn't seem proper.

"My priorites have changed and I hope I've become a better coach, stroke assistant manager, stroke manager if I went back into that because of it, because I know football is not the be all and end all.

"It will always be that way now, where as in the past it has been."

Time can be a great healer, but Gritt remains scarred by his sacking within months of keeping Albion up. It still rankles and he has never forgiven chairman Dick Knight.

"It's probably something that does eat away at me at times and I don't like to admit it.

"I will never believe that I was given a fair crack of the whip. It still hurts me the way it all ended, but life goes on.

"You have to get on with it and I was fortunate that a fortnight later I was brought into Millwall by Billy Bonds."

Now it's another Steve trying to stave off relegation for Albion. Gritt recognises the coincidence.

"It's deja vu," he said. "He (Coppell) took over when they were five or six points adrift and he has done magnificently well to get them into a position where they can get out of it.

"It's still going to be difficult for them and obviously we are not going to make that any easier.

"When Steve went there I think it was comparable to my situation. People probably thought it was impossible. They've chipped away at the deficit and got themselves in the position now where they are third-bottom, right on Grimsby's heels.

"He will believe he can get above them as well and that is all they have got to do. I had to get up one place, Steve's had to get up three and now he's got to get up only one more.

"It's very similar. He has got no money to spend and has got to rely on bringing people in on loan and free transfers.

"I'm sure it's a situation which in one respect Steve is relishing but in another he would like the resources to get the players he wants. That certainly won't happen unless they stay in this division."

As I left I pointed out Albion's last match is at Grimsby. Gritt chuckled at the thought, then suggested: "It could be another Hereford."