Albion boss Steve Coppell believes more money must be spent on the team, whether or not he stays.

Micky Adams brought the likes of Danny Cullip, Paul Watson and Michel Kuipers to the club when the Seagulls were still in the Third Division.

Coppell said: "I feel there's just got to be some investment in the team.

"The original investment has carried them through from the Third Division to the First and there has been no re-investment in that time.

"That original investment just showed that if you hand pick the players you want you can get some rock-solid players who carry you for a couple of years.

"There has got to be some kind of input from that point of view."

Relegation would not be a financial disaster for Albion. Revenue from matches at Withdean is set to rise, even if they are playing in the Second Division next season.

"At home games I would expect the income levels to be the same as this season and more if they get the extra seats in, so they will be better off," Coppell said.

"The reaction from the playing squad would be the important thing, whether they think upon it as massive failure or have the determination to bounce straight back.

"Time changes people. Maybe the hungry players who've had a taste of the First Division want to stay in the First Division. You couldn't blame them for that."

A number of the squad would revert back to Division Two wages following the new contracts negotiated with them by chairman Dick Knight last summer.

Four Coppell signings - Dave Beasant, Dean Blackwell, Ivar Ingimarsson and Simon Rodger - will be in the starting line-up at Grimsby on Sunday and their futures could be linked to his.

Coppell's one-year contract runs out in October, although Knight has indicated he will be offered a longer term deal once the season is over.

Asked if he would like to manage in the Premiership, Coppell replied: "Yes, of course I would", but it won't be at Fulham.

Coppell says there is "absolutely no chance" of him succeeding Jean Tigana.

He added: "I don't even think about what's going to happen. I know I had 34 games to try and make an impact here and I've got one game left."