MICKY Adams was today confirmed as Albion's manager for the Millennium.

The Nottingham Forest reserve team boss is joining the Seagulls on a four-year contract following talks yesterday with chairman Dick Knight.

Adams, Albion's seventh manager in just over five years, was attending a press conference at the Grand Hotel in Brighton this afternoon before being introduced to the fans at Hove Town Hall tonight, when the club outline their new stadium plans for Falmer at a public meeting (7.30).

His first match in charge will be tomorrow night's home game against Shrewsbury.

Knight said: "I couldn't be more pleased. Micky is a formidable character with a proven track record. He knows what it takes to get a club promoted from the Third Division but, more than that, Micky knows the potential of the club.

"He shares our vision of the future and wants to be part of it. That is why I have offered him a four-year contract and he has agreed to that commitment."

Adams, who guided Fulham to promotion from the Third Division two seasons ago, said: "Brighton should not be languishing in the bottom reaches of the Third Division. It is a sleeping giant and maybe I have an opportunity to resurrect it.

"I can see them potentially being a First Division outfit.

"It has been a huge club which has suffered in recent years. I see it as a progressive club and hopefully the right one for me.

"I am keen to be a No.1 again and I think I am more than capable."

The Argus exclusively revealed on Friday that former Fulham, Swansea and Brentford boss Adams was the man Albion had lined up to replace the sacked Jeff Wood, with Alan Cork becoming his No.2.

The highly regarded 37-year-old, who lives in Locks Heath near Southampton, was the third choice of Albion fans, behind his former Forest boss Dave Bassett and runaway winner Wood, in an Argus phone poll after Brian Horton quit in January to rejoin Port Vale.

"That is not a bad threesome," Adams said. "I have got connections on the south coast, so that's nice. I think Jeff was unlucky, but that's football. We are in a results business unfortunately."

Adams will be taking charge of a team boosted by Saturday's 2-1 win away to Plymouth Argyle under caretaker Martin Hinshelwood.

On-loan Nottingham Forest reserve striker Steve Guinan, the scorer of Argyle's equaliser, said: "I have worked quite closely under Mickey for nearly a season and he is a good coach.

"He was cruelly treated at Fulham and everyone leaves his training sessions feeling great. I think he will do a very good job for Brighton."

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