It wasn't that long ago that I was being rubbished in some quarters for suggesting that Rio Ferdinand had world-class potential.

Sir Alex Ferguson, on this occasion, sings from the same hymn sheet as yours truly because he has taken Ferdinand across the Pennines and broken the British transfer record in the process.

I don't suppose Rio is expecting many Christmas cards with a Leeds postmark and he won't get a ripple of polite applause when he returns with his new club to Elland Road.

But was the transfer that much of a surprise?

It won't make Leeds fans hate Manchester United any more than they already do. Everyone knows fans are the only 'lifers' at a club. Players come and go and it is not as if Leeds never had any success before they bought Ferdinand 18 months ago.

New Leeds boss Terry Venables says the events of the last week make a mockery of the contract system.

Very perceptive, Terry, tell us something we didn't know.

The term "selling club" has been used about the Albion many times over the years.

But football is undergoing a sea change and it's probably true that, with the exception of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, every club in this country now has to sell to survive.

Having listened to numerous United fans on various phone-in shows (one or two actually had northern accents), it appears Rio's signing has already secured the Premiership trophy and European Cup.

Now, as much as I admire Ferdinand as a player, how refreshing it would be to see him not enjoy the best of form at club level and end up with nothing in his medal cabinet at the end of the season, if only to shut up the Red Army.

Well, at least for another 12 months, when no doubt the chequebook will be out again.

I am very pleased Albion are making tentative plans for Kerry Mayo's testimonial season next year.

In a game where sustained loyalty is at a premium, it's quite an achievement for a player to serve a club for ten years, particularly as he is a local lad.

However, before Kerry get his richly-deserved rewards, perhaps Albion should think about doing something this season for former Albion favourite Ian Chapman.

As a dyed-in-the-wool Seagulls fan, Dick Knight will know Chappers was forced out of the club in 1996. Six years later, Dick has the opportunity to redress the balance.

Unfortunately, Hampshire Police seem to be the only people who think Portsmouth against Brighton, kicking off at 5.35pm live on Sky on August 31, isn't a good idea.

I quite understand the police at Fratton have had problems in the past with the likes of Chelsea, Millwall and Manchester City.

But bearing in mind it's Albion we are talking about, this is a bit of a lame excuse.

If the police don't want people in the pubs for an extra three hours, then why not shut them in and around Fratton Park at 2pm?

Perhaps in light of the current new guidelines for our boys in blue, it would be better to stay out of the pubs altogether and smoke cannabis instead.

But woe betide anyone who goes over 34mph when driving past a speed camera on the way down!