Peter Taylor sought the thoughts of two people before taking the Albion job.

It made sense for him to consult his predecessor Micky Adams, but he also leaned on the experience of one of the most respected figures in football.

Dave Sexton was turning out for the Seagulls when Taylor was still a toddler.

The sage of the game went on to hold managerial and coaching posts with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Sexton has also been involved on and off in the England set-up for almost a quarter of a century.

Who better then to assess the qualities of Taylor than Sven Goran Eriksson's scouting guru.

Sexton's admiration for Taylor stretches back to the early Seventies when he tried to sign him.

"The first time I became conscious of Peter was when he was an outside left for Southend and I was manager of Chelsea," Sexton explained.

"I liked the look of him. At one time I very nearly bought him, but it fell through.

"I followed his career with interest after that. He was a very exciting player. He became an international and he has done very well in his coaching career as well.

"Peter is a good coach. I think one of his best qualities is that he is very enthusiastic. He wants to know as much as possible about the game and he transmits that knowledge to the players.

"That all might sound quite serious, but he is actually great fun to be around which is a very nice bonus. You work hard and have fun with him and that is a good combination."

Sexton, 71, scored 28 goals in 53 games as a prolific striker for Albion between 1957 and 1959.

He was a key figure in Billy Lane's promotion winning line-up and has retained a soft spot for the club ever since.

"When I read Peter had gone to Albion I was really chuffed," Sexton said. "Being an ex-player I was pleased they were getting somebody as good as him.

"As in all ventures it's fingers crossed, but Brighton have got a hard-working guy who has a good temperament, a good sense of honour and is a dedicated professional."

Sexton's first involvement at international level was as manager of the England under- 21s.

He was reappointed to the post in 1994 following a spell as Saudi Arabia's national coach and remained a senior adviser when Taylor's former Tottenham team-mate Glenn Hoddle took over from Terry Venables two years later.

Taylor took charge of the England under-21s under Hoddle and then the full side for the friendly in Italy a year ago prior to Eriksson's appointment.

He relinquished his dual role in the summer to concentrate all his efforts on Leicester, but Sexton expects the Albion boss to be back in the international fold as part of Eriksson's scouting network in Japan and Korea next summer.

"I would have an intelligent guess that he will be asked on board for the World Cup, but that is Sven's decision," Sexton revealed.

"I know he thinks highly of Peter, but the club and country issue has reared up with Steve McClaren as well. I think you can combine the two, providing results go for you at the club.

"If we are successful at the World Cup he may be away a long time, three or four weeks or maybe more including preparation, so it's not that easy to fit in. But with willing hands and hearts on both sides it can be done. I know they would like Peter to help if it's at all possible."

Meanwhile, Taylor has backed Adams' view that managers should serve an apprenticeship at a lower level before landing a top job.

Adams, now at Leicester as Dave Bassett's No. 2, expressed disappointment in the summer at not being interviewed for the then vacant posts at his old club Southampton and West Ham.

Saints' decision to stick with Stuart Gray has already backfired. He was recently sacked and replaced by Gordon Strachan.

Taylor cut his managerial teeth with the likes of Dartford and Dover. "I think having managed at clubs like Dover really helps me," he said.

"There are a lot of people who want to become a manager these days who think they are going to get a job just like that.

"I think they have got to learn their trade elsewhere. They have got to be three nights a week training, helping doing the kit and so on. You learn everything there.

"Managers in the modern day are not so sure they want to take the full coaching badges or go out on a Tuesday night when it's peeing down with rain.

"That is where the game has changed. It's massive now, there are PLCs and you need a big name to keep everybody happy, but sometimes they might need to start as an apprentice on the management side and build up that way."