Albion boss Steve Coppell has attacked the state of reserve team football.

He believes perpetual postponements make a mockery of the Avon Insurance Combination League.

Wednesday's visit to Bristol City was only the 14th Combination fixture Albion have played in 26 weeks and they still have 11 more to fit in.

Coppell said: "Reserve football is a real mess at the moment. Since I've been here almost every reserve game has been in extreme weather conditions.

"It is supposed to prepare players to play for the first team, but it has almost become like an endurance test to get the games out of the way.

"When decisions are made in July and August about the Combination fixtures everyone wants them, but in reality everyone delays them.

"I guarantee that come the last two weeks of the season every team will be playing three games a week and that's just not right."

Albion play home matches at busy Woodside Road, Worthing, but what about taking the reserves to non-League venues around the county on a one-off basis to generate more interest?

Coppell supports the idea, providing the pitches are up to scratch. "At Worthing they play loads of games on it and it's just really difficult for us to get into a rhythmn there," he said.

"Worthing is a good facility and if it was just Worthing and us we would be okay, but it's Worthing and us, Withdean 2000, Worthing youth team and reserves, a bit of everything. I would be quite happy going to other grounds if we can get the surface."

It seems a little odd, given the investment they have made in the pitch, that Albion never play reserve games at Withdean. After all, the women play matches at the Seagulls' temporary home.

Crawley's Broadfield Stadium was looked at for a possible groundshare a few seasons ago, but that was ruled out by the local council.

Albion have conceded home advantage to play there in the quarter-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup on Monday (7.45).

They are back at Worthing 48 hours later to face Barnet in the Combination (7.0), weather and pitch permitting!