Albion have sold out of Withdean season tickets, exactly one month before the home Division One campaign gets underway.

More than 5,000 fans have secured their places for the Seagulls' first season in a decade in the second tier of English football.

The Seagulls say they could have improved on that record-breaking figure but were keen to leave some tickets available for fans to buy ahead of each individual match.

About 400 seats will go on sale to home fans for each League fixture at Withdean.

Chief executive Martin Perry said he was delighted by the news but renewed calls for the club to be given permission to play in front of more spectators.

The Seagulls will kick-off against Coventry on Tuesday, August 13, in front of 7,000 fans, given the Sky Blues are expected to sell their allocation of 750 tickets.

Albion hope to see capacity rise to 9,000 during the season, 3,000 up on the full house figure when Withdean first welcomed the Seagulls three years ago.

The club have rarely had any trouble filling their temporary home and fans' appetites have been whetted by an historic title double.

Perry said: "This is the first time in the club's history we have sold so many season tickets.

"Even when our crowds were bigger in the old First Division days, the majority of fans used to pay on the gate.

"This is good news in that demand has been high but it highlights yet again how desperately we need additional capacity at Withdean and how much we need a new stadium.

"We will shortly be submitting an application to increase capacity by 2,000 at some stage during the season."

Albion cannot confirm whether they will have a new manager in place when they go to Ryman League outfit Worthing for their first friendly on Tuesday (7.30pm).

Perry said: "It is impossible to say but we are working on it."