KERRY Mayo has backed the unusual travel arrangements for the trek to Torquay.

Mayo reckons the coach journey hours before kick-off had no adverse effect on the players.

Adams abandoned the normal policy of an overnight hotel stay for the 200-mile haul to Devon.

Instead the team coach left Brighton at 7.45pm on Saturday morning. A hotel stop was made at Exeter for a pre-match meal and the players arrived at Plainmoor at 1.45pm.

"We heard about it a few days before the game," said Mayo. "We weren't too bothered. In fact, there were a few laughs and jokes.

"Leaving at quarter to eight wasn't too bad. We were expecting it to be about seven o'clock.

"It took us four to four and a half hours to get down there, but there are always things to do on the coach. You can play cards, watch a couple of films or listen to music.

"The hotel stop-off gave us time to relax, stretch our legs and prepare for the game.

"To me it makes no odds. Other players like to stay down, but it doesn't really bother me at all. I don't think it affected our game one bit."

Albion, if anything, looked perkier than they have in recent matches and made a particularly bright opening.

Assistant Alan Cork, who took charge of the team in the absence of Adams for family reasons, said: "We were very lively from the word go. We had worked all week on starting the game quickly and positively."

Although cost had nothing to do with Adams' decision, Albion saved around £800 by travelling on the day of the game, a tidy sum when multiplied over the duration of the season.

It would, of course, be impractical to travel to the likes of Carlisle, Darlington and Hartlepool on a Saturday, and even for lesser journeys there is the risk of major road hold-ups.

Clubs are fined £100 if they hand the teamsheet in late, much more if the kick-off has to be delayed.

The Torquay venture was essentially a one-off, designed to give the players a kick up the backside, but Adams has not ruled out a repeat.

"I will review it," he said. "I don't think it did them any harm. Away trips have all been budgeted for, so it wasn't a case of trying to save the club money but making the players appreciate what we do for them.

"Things don't always come so easily for certain clubs at this level. When I was at Fulham four supporters used to pay to come on the coach with us, which helped with the cost of an overnight stay.

"We didn't have pre-match meals, just a late breakfast, because we couldn't afford it. We've got away games on a Saturday at Hull and Chester to think about. Ideally you would want to travel to them on the Friday."

Overnight stays or not, Mayo is eager to retain his place on the left-side of the defence. He regained the role from the out-of-favour Jamie Campbell in the 0-0 draw at Torquay.

"Me and Jamie are taking it in turns at the moment," said Mayo. "I am just keeping my head down and trying to keep my place. All I want to do is play first team football.

"There's no real vendetta with each other. We are good friends. The gaffer picks the team and obviously if you are not in it you are going to be disappointed, but we wish each other luck.

"You have to feel for any player that isn't in the first team, but in another respect it gives me a chance to come in and show what I can do.

"I don't think I need to prove myself any more. The gaffer knows what I can do and so do the fans.

"When I am out there I just get on with the job in hand and give it one hundred per cent. Sometimes it doesn't come off, but seven times out of ten you will have a good game if you keep sticking at it for 90 minutes."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.