He wanted to cash in on another friendly bet with pal Knighton before grabbing the only goal against his old club.

"When I was at Carlisle I had a bet with Michael that he wouldn't lose weight," revealed Aspinall. "He never did, so he owed me £100 for that.

"We then had double or quits when I was playing for Brentford under Micky Adams and we won 2-1.

"I'd have had another double or quits bet on Saturday's match, but I couldn't find him.

"I still haven't seen the £200 he owes me yet. He said after the Brentford game the cheque would be in the post, but I think he sent it in a bottle into the North Sea and it has gone to Australia!"

Permanent

Aspinall is keen to make his move to the sixth-placed Seagulls permanent after joining them from Colchester in a month's loan swap involving Andy Arnott.

"I've played in three games and we've had three clean sheets, two wins and a draw, so I can't do any more," he said. "I think the manager wants me and I want to make it permanent, but it's up to the chairman and directors."

Albion boss Adams said: "A lot depends on whether Colchester want Andy Arnott. My chairman Dick Knight and his directors have been very kind to me.

"I have already asked for another fifty grand for Danny Cullip and I can't keep going back to them, because I am now over budget."

Gazza's agent holds the key to Albion completing the signing of on-loan Brentford defender Cullip, as revealed in last Friday's Argus.

"It's just a matter of me and Danny sitting down with his agent, Mel Stein, to sort out a deal,"Adams added.

TOUCH OF CLASS - PAGE 38

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