Albion's damaged promotion silverware has been knocked back into the shape, by the big hands of goalkeeper Michel Kuipers.

The play-offs trophy was buckled at the base during the celebrations which followed Sunday's victory in Cardiff against Bristol City.

A club source revealed: "I think about three of the players accidentally stood on it.

"Our former Dutch marine used his immense strength and sorted it out.

"He just got hold of it in the dressing room and bent it back into place. You can hardly tell now that it was damaged at all."

Pre-season training begins on July 5 and all of Albion's friendlies will be away from Withdean, including one against Third Division Cambridge United.

The Seagulls are hoping to organise one more warm-up against League opposition, while matches have also been arranged against Worthing, Crawley, Weymouth, Woking, AFC Wimbledon and probably Aldershot.

The bookies are already writing Mark McGhee's side off as 50-1 no-hopers for the First Division title, the same price as Burnley.