Albion will kick off their return to the Second Division away to crisis-torn Oldham Athletic.

Steve Coppell's men will start at Boundary Park on Saturday, August 9, and follow that with a highly attractive first home fixture against Queens Park Rangers a week later.

There will be a home match on Boxing Day with Wycombe Wanderers, South Coast rivals Bournemouth visit Withdean Stadium on February 21 and the season ends with a trip to Wrexham on May 8.

Albion do not have happy memories of playing at Oldham. They lost 2-0 on their last visit there under Peter Taylor in the 2002 Second Division title-winning campaign and suffered a humiliating 6-1 reverse under Barry Lloyd in the 1990-91 season.

Oldham are currently fighting for their future after Chris Moore, who owns 95 per cent of the club, revealed the Latics are losing up to £50,000 a week.

Takeover talks have been ongoing. Discussions with a potential investor broke down last week but a fresh offer was put to Moore last night. It is believed if this offer is not accepted, Oldham may not be in existence by the start of the season.

Even if it is accepted, Iain Dowie's side are expected to be much changed from the team which finished fifth in the Second Division last season before losing to Queens Park Rangers in the play-off semi-finals.

A clash with Ian Holloway's QPR begins a series of mouth-watering home games which include Luton Town, Swindon, Chesterfield and fellow relegated side Sheffield Wednesday in the first two months of the season. September will conclude with a first ever League fixture away to Rushden and Diamonds.

Grimsby, the other team relegated with Albion last season, visit Withdean on October 11 with the return at Blundell Park on Valentine's Day (February 14).

Coppell's eyes will immediately turn to clashes with his old club Brentford, away on October 21 and at home on March 2.

The Albion manager hopes to have Republic of Ireland under-21 winger Steve Hunt signed from Brentford before them after Hunt revealed earlier this week he was "80 per cent certain" to join the Seagulls.

If Coppell wants to lead Albion to promotion he must negotiate a difficult final five weeks of the season which includes tough looking away fixtures with Blackpool and Danny Wilson's Bristol City in April. Notts County provide the opposition for the final home game on May 1 before the Seagulls finish at Wrexham.