Albion are closing in on the mystery man they want as their new manager.

Chairman Dick Knight is hoping to seal the deal by the weekend.

Knight skipped Wednesday's crucial Brighton and Hove Council meeting, when planners gave the go-ahead to the Seagulls stadium project at Falmer. He flew out instead for urgent talks with his target, currently abroad on holiday.

Knight has been hunting for the right man to become Albion's sixth manager in five years since Peter Taylor quit at the end of April after steering them to the Second Division title.

Taylor felt the playing budget for next season was not enough for the Seagulls to compete in Division One and he was not prepared to wait for at least two more seasons for the new stadium.

Former Brentford boss Steve Coppell, ex-Wimbledon chief Terry Burton and Albion's director of youth Martin Hinshelwood are among the candidates Knight has spoken to, but they are all thought to have been ruled out of the running.

Albion have agreed to let a local non-League club play matches at Withdean next season. Withdean 2000 will be allowed up to six games at the Seagulls' temporary home, with the emphasis on youth team fixtures.

The compromise follows approaches to Albion and ground owners Brighton and Hove Council by Withdean 2000's chief executive Alan Pook.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: "They are not going to come back as a team to play there until we have gone and on that basis we have said yes to a limited number of matches, particularly for kids.

"There is a maximum number of six in a season and they will be subject to our fixture list. What we didn't want was another men's first team groundsharing."

Albion's Ladies will continue to play at Withdean on Sundays providing there is not a first team fixture the following midweek. Worthing's Woodside Road ground will be the venue again for reserve matches.

The dressing rooms used by Albion and visiting teams at Withdean have been demolished. They are being replaced by temporary facilities on the same site until a new complex is built as part of the plans for extra seating behind the west goal.

Albion's home game against Stoke has been brought forward 24 hours to Tuesday, September 17.