John Prescott has been given a giant reminder of the importance of a new stadium for the Albion thanks to a huge billboard driven around London.

The giant map of Brighton and Hove was paraded around Westminster yesterday as supporters geared up for the most important game of the season.

Chairman Dick Knight joined chief executive Martin Perry in the capital to hammer home their message to the Deputy Prime Minister that there is only one suitable stadium site in Brighton and Hove.

The decision on the proposed 23,000-seat arena beside the A27 at Falmer rests with Mr Prescott and a series of stunts have been staged to ensure he realises the strength of feeling.

The billboard map pinpointed other sites which have been suggested for the stadium and explained why they were unsuitable. Large crosses were drawn next to these sites with a corresponding tick alongside Falmer.

At last night's play-off match, posters were handed out to supporters with matching ticks or crosses.

Mr Knight said: "There is genuinely only one viable site for a new stadium in Brighton and Hove and that site is Falmer - not Sheepcote Valley, Waterhall, Withdean or anywhere else.

"We have continually demonstrated exactly why Falmer is the best site available. Not one of the others is remotely feasible and it is vital that we get this message over to John Prescott in as dramatic a way as possible."

As nerves among supporters were mounting last night, writers on the Albion's popular North Stand Chat messageboard were wondering if the Swindon match was the most important game in the club's history.

One contributor said: "The Falmer decision appears to be on a knife-edge. Without Falmer this club will die.

"We need the play-off final at Cardiff to show Prescott and all the doubters that we are a big, passionate club who desperately need a home like Falmer.

"Only an event like the final can give us the instant, nationwide captive emotional exposure we need."