Albion fans' plea to Coppell

Supporters from as far as Australia and Canada sent messages begging the Seagulls' manager not to leave after The Argus launched an appeal to Save Our Steve.

Despite the efforts of fans and club officials, it appears Coppell has decided to accept an offer from Division One side Reading, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

In an interview after Saturday's game, in which the Seagulls beat Blackpool 3-0, taking them to the top of Division Two, he laid the blame for thinking about leaving on the drawn-out negotiations over the new stadium at Falmer.

He said: "I am torn. I have got something great going here. If we had the ground it wouldn't be an issue. I have got a great bunch of players and the vast majority of supporters respect what I am doing."

The mood at Saturday's match at Withdean was subdued as supporters reflected on the club's future.

Coppell was given a standing ovation during the second half as he ran along the side of the pitch from the dugout and there were chants of "Stevie Coppell's blue and white army".

He came to Brighton a year ago and supporters warmed to him. Despite the victory on Saturday, many fans seemed resigned to him leaving.

Joan McClatchey, from Crawley, and at Withdean with her husband Alf, said: "I am sure he is going to go and you can't blame him if he has got a better offer. We will be sad to see him go. If we had had him for all of last year we might still be in Division One."

Lifelong supporter Tony Massimo, 37, from Horsham, whose brother Frank used to play professionally for Brighton, said: "It's sad but I think he is going to go to Reading. I still think they are going to keep up the push for Division One and hopefully they have got enough support whoever comes in. Coppell has done a good job."

Nick Wakefield, 31, was at the game with his children Harriet, 12, and Oliver, ten.

Mr Wakefield, who works in Brighton, said: "I have faith in Dick Knight and every time we lose a manager he has found a good replacement."

John and Lulu Rutte, both 33, had taken their 11-week-old daughter, Holly, to her first Albion match.

Mrs Rutte said: "He is going to go. His mind is made up. But the Albion is bigger than him and it will survive."

Meanwhile messages from all over the world have poured in to The Argus' Save Our Steve campaign.

Hugh Davies, from Vancouver, said: "I have supported The Albion for 27 years. The Seagulls are a special team and their supporters are special too - look at their recent history and their fans' loyal support.

"Steve Coppell is the perfect manager for them. He gets the best out the players and has the fans' true support."

Paul Brown, also from Canada, said: "This club and this city have taken to you, Steve, and see you as an important cornerstone in the rebirth of the Albion. Don't cop out on us now."

Michael Wray, from Brighton but currently in Bangkok, said: "Stay! Last season we were facing total humiliation until you arrived and gave us belief."

Miles Baigent, representing the 45 members of Scottish Seagulls Supporting The Albion From Afar, said: "Please, please, please stay on and see the work at the Albion through."

Peter John Dunk, from Tokyo, said: "Having not quite saved the Albion from the drop last season I would have thought Steve Coppell would be more than motivated to stay here and take us back up."

Jezz Leazell, from Poland, added: "Reading may have the ground and the money but we have the passion and drive to make the Albion the premier club in the South. Steve, finish what you have started."

Other email messages included Adrian Packham's plea: "We are a club going places and we want you to take us there."

Andrew Williams said: "The Albion probably have more potential than any other Nationwide club and once we've secured our new ground, that potential will start to be realised."

Neil Dyson, from Brighton, said: "You are the best manager we have had here for many years. We need you badly."

Michael Melville-Reed, from Brighton: "Steve must stay! Soon Albion will get the yes to Falmer. Then Steve is the man to lead us on to glory."

Wayne Richardson, from the West Country, said: "Please stay at least until the stadium decision is made, then make your decision on whether our future is bright or not.

Text messages included Catwoman, from Brighton: "Oi, Steve, no."

Robert Meaden: "'Come on, Steve, Reading is a bore, Brighton's where it's at!"

Peter Parr: "What's the point of a new ground without a decent manager? He must stay."

Wooly: "Sorry but Reading are a far bigger club than the Albion and geared towards the Premiership. Let Coppell leave. After all, he's only trying to get a better job, something we've all done at some point."

Harry Amey, France: "Steve, don't be a mug! Stay with a chairman, a club that cares and a club with a huge future. Stay with the Albion."

Tim Blake: "Finish the job Steve!"

Warren, SW12: "We can see the appeal of Reading but you have a long-term future in Brighton. You can be the manager who leads the team out at Falmer and takes Albion beyond the status Reading have reached."

Russell Ward, from Sydney, Australia: "You can show loyalty in football does exist outside a fan and his club. Don't let your fans down. Be with us when we are at our new stadium and get 30,000 home gates each week."

Charlie, Brighton: "Please stay Steve! U are the best!"

Chris Bankes: "He gave us hope last season and not many managers could have achieved that. Without Steve the work he has done will be lost. He found us a replacement for Zamora in Knight. Steve, the fans need you."

Gavin Gray: "Are you going to prove all the doubters right, all those that said you should never have been appointed in the first place?"

David Sharp, Sweden: "We welcomed you Steve, now please show us some loyalty and commitment."

Marcus Ruff, Brighton: "Steve, you are a man of integrity. Now is the time to demonstrate that to the full."

John Malkin, BFPO 31: "Please stay at the Albion. It can only get better as we get to the new stadium."

Andi, Brighton: "I am a guy from Albania and I have been living in Brighton since 1999 and I think Steve Coppell must stay because he is the man to send Brighton and Hove Albion back to First Division."

Andy Walker: "You have brought us this far. Take us back into Div 1."

Mark Hastings: "You're great for this club and it will be impossible to replace you."

Tom Dunmore, Brighton: "Very few clubs have the heart and soul of the Albion. Whatever the frustrations of working at a club in flux, Steve should remember this is a special club and he has the chance to become a legend."

Geoffrey Seagrave, Milton Keynes: "We need Steve to finish the job and put us back in the First Division where we belong, ready for the assault on the Premiership to play in our new stadium at Falmer."

Bill Harrison: "We've taken enough knocks over the last seven years. With you at the helm we can really go places."

ME Webb: "The Seagulls need you more than Reading."

Mark Westcott, Brighton: "Steve, you seem to under-stand the struggle Brighton have had more than any previous manager and I really hoped you would stay to see us through it. Don't join Reading and their bought success."

Duncan Easton, Brighton: "Please stay and be the first manager to lead out the Seagulls at Falmer!"

Mike Noakes: "We can be bigger than Reading as soon as Falmer opens. Seagulls need winners like you."

K Pybous, Brighton: "Don't be a royal. Stay loyal."

Martin Clark: "With Steve Coppell we will succeed. He must take us to the new stadium."

Rob Cocozza, Brighton: "Your style of play and leadership is a quiet revolution so please see it through. PS - Reading's a horrible place with rogue fans."

Adam Newnham, Brighton: "Please stay Steve you have just won over many Brighton fans that doubted you."

Nigel Eyre: Please stay. "You have a great future and so does the club with you at the front, leading us to promotion and a new stadium."