It's not so much a case of 'Whodunit' more 'Whoisit' as the hunt for the next Albion manager continues.

Dick Knight is certainly leaving no stone unturned and with over 50 applicants he'll probably end up with a bad back, although it now appears that in true Miss World style the chairman has whittled it down to a shortlist of four.

He will not make any of the candidates parade in a swimsuit or tell him how much they'd like to travel and raise money for children's charities, but one thing is for sure. He is clearly making sure he gets the right man this time and by that I mean someone who is here for the long haul.

Although Falmer is at least two years away from completion, I would hope that whoever gets the job this time would be here for the opening game at the Albion's new stadium.

Since the day Steve Coppell disappeared down the M4 I've made no secret of the fact that I felt Bob Booker deserved a chance.

This view has attracted criticism in certain quarters, a thread on North Stand Chat entitled 'Harty Backs Losers' being one of the most savage.

People are entitled to their opinion, but having actively supported Albion for over 30 years I refute any charge that I back losers.

Whilst two consecutive defeats have not changed my opinion of Bob Booker or his abilities, it is the opinion of Dick Knight that ultimately counts and last night's result is unlikely to help Bob.

History was against Bob from day one but four wins out of four would have put him in the box seat.

However, if there is any doubt in Dick Knight's mind it will, in my opinion, put paid to any chance Bob had.

Within the next week or so we'll hopefully have a winner and then, unlike the Tory party, let's hope everyone gets behind Albion's new leader and the massed ranks concentrate on winning our third piece of silverware in four years.

Looking at Division Two this season, another title is not beyond this Albion squad.

Albion Chief Executive Martin Perry please take note and act now to stop a large number of Albion-related domestic disputes over Christmas.

I refer to the kick-off time for the home game against Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day. When I phoned the club earlier this week I was told that it is still 3pm.

Mr Perry, I'll cut to the chase. Mrs Hart is one of thousands of football widows in Sussex who feel that a 3pm kick-off all but puts paid to her idea of a traditional family Boxing Day.

However she's prepared to compromise by saying that some kind of family day can still be salvaged with a midday start at Withdean.

I doubt if she's alone in Sussex with this view, so come on Martin how about it?

Bringing it forward by three hours won't really affect the Wycombe fans that much but, as far as the Albion faithful are concerned, it could possibly stop a hell of a lot of arguments and earache.

Regardless of which team he plays for or however much he cost on the transfer market, Rio Ferdinand has technically broken the rules and therefore deserves to be punished.

However, not for the first time the FA have made a complete pig's ear of the situation by forgoing Rio's right to anonymity until his hearing and excluding him from the England squad. I have got a degree of sympathy for him.

Both he and Sir Alex Ferguson should hold their hands up and accept what's coming to the player. Appeals will only make the matter worse.