As Albion digest their return to Division One, attention now turns towards resolving outstanding contract issues.

Before Mark McGhee starts the process of strengthening the squad there are new deals to be confirmed, which were put on hold until he knew which division his team would be playing in next season.

Six of the 13 players involved in Sunday's final of the play-offs in Cardiff are out of contract, as is the man who has been side by side with McGhee since he took charge.

Bob Booker, like Guy Butters, Nathan Jones, Adam Virgo, John Piercy, Chris Iwelumo and probably Paul Reid, will not be going anywhere. Albion's selfless assistant pushed his own circumstances to one side to concentrate on the prolonged quest for promotion.

"I am out of contract but that is not a concern," Booker said. "I am sure we can sit down and sort something out.

"It has not been the right time to do it over the last month. What has been important is to keep the team going."

Booker met McGhee for the first time at the press conference to announce the manager's appointment at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. That was only seven months ago, but the rapport was instantaneous. You would think they have worked with each other for years.

"A few people told me that at the press conference," Booker said. "I didn't really see it at the time, but we seem to be on the same wavelength.

"I am an easy going bloke anyway, which is probably why I have worked with so many managers and, fair play to Mark, he has made it easy for me to work with him.

"The players responded as well. It's difficult, it takes time to get in and change the dressing room around. Everyone works differently."

It must have been especially difficult for Booker. His brief reign as caretaker following Steve Coppell's departure to Reading ended with a hat-trick of defeats, but his cheery disposition saw him through.

"I love it at Brighton and it's nice to have been in the position to work with all the managers we've had," he said. "You learn as you go along.

"I've been with the players a long time and that helps as well. I love working with them and I hope they like working with me."

Booker, Charlie Oatway, Danny Cullip, Richard Carpenter and Gary Hart were all in the squad when Albion won the Third Division under Micky Adams, the Second Division under Peter Taylor and relegation last season after Coppell replaced Martin Hinshelwood.

"I was talking to Charlie after the game about that, the ones who have been here the same time as me or just before me under Micky at the start of it all," Booker said.

"What they have done without the resources, a stadium and the managerial changes is unbelievable, a fairytale for some of them. I am really pleased for them to do it at this stage of their careers.

"It's a credit to them and their resilience. We had a hard time going down last season. Everyone expects you to come straight back, but it's not that easy as we have seen with other clubs like West Ham. That makes it even sweeter.

"The atmosphere and emotions in Cardiff were just superb. From the start, going down on the coach and at the hotel, the hairs on the back of my neck were up so God knows what the players were feeling, but they all handled themselves really well.

"The game went to plan, the tactics went to plan. It's easy to say that after the event, but we spoke to Leon (Knight) beforehand. It was a big game, he is a big game player and he came up with a big game goal after having not done so well in recent weeks, as he would be the first to admit.

"Everyone was excellent. We had young lads out there with a mixture of people who have been there before. It's a nice blend and we snuffed them out.

"All credit to Bristol City as well for getting there. It's not a very nice way to miss out. I'm glad it wasn't us."

Booker's thoughts have already turned to the task ahead. "Obviously we are aware of the situation," he said. "It's a massive step up, but it's not something you are going to turn down.

"It's there, we have taken it and now we have another go at it. I think we will learn from the experience of last year, going to big stadiums and playing against better players.

"They are the places you want to be at. We put on the board before the game a list of First Division grounds and Second Division grounds and asked the players where they wanted to play.

"Teams don't want to come to Withdean, they want to go to the Stadium of Light, the Walkers Bowl and places like that. That's where we will be now."

And Elland Road and Upton Park, when defeat would have condemned Albion to more visits to the likes of Layer Road and Victoria Park.

It has been an amazing journey, three promotions and a relegation in four seasons all with different managers, with Booker there every step of the way.