Alan Mullery has backed Albion's move for Danny Wilson after advising them to go for a candidate "who knows and loves the club."

The most successful manager in the Seagulls' history has revealed he wrote to the directors urging them to appoint somebody with strong Albion connections.

Albion made an approach to Bristol City for Wilson last week but they have been refused permission to speak to the Seagulls' former skipper.

Mullery steered Albion from the old Third Division to the First from 1976 to 1979, then Wilson played under him in his second stint in charge in the late Eighties.

"I would have thought Danny would be an ideal candidate," Mullery said. "He was always a winner as a player and he has done extremely well at Bristol City.

"He's a little fighter and he knows the club. I am very much in favour of them appointing somebody like that.

"I sent a letter to Brighton advising them to go for somebody who knows and loves the club with the situation they are in.

"I sent a letter to the directors saying they should go for somebody with that kind of passion, not just someone looking to get back into football. The next manager should be somebody who knows the club inside out.

"I don't want to see people just coming and going and them changing managers year in and year out.

"Micky Adams had an opportunity to go to a Premier League club and Peter Taylor did a very good job but he must have known there was no money before he took it and just to walk away has left them in the lurch."

Bristol City chairman John Laycock has claimed Wilson is not interested in the Albion post.

"Peter Taylor wanted to leave because of the restrictions on finance and waiting for the move to the new stadium," Mullery said.

"That could be two, three or four years away, which is a long time in football. That may be why Danny didn't want it."

Taylor, twice a candidate for the Bristol City job, has also supported Albion's bid to make Wilson his successor.

"There's no doubting he would be a very popular choice and quite rightly because he was a very good player," said Taylor. "It's always nice to be wanted by a club and I am sure Danny will have felt that.

"I would imagine Brighton's interest will have caught Danny's attention. It will have been difficult for him, because he must carry so many fabulous memories of his days with them as a player.

"He will also have weighed up the fact that he is at a very good club already. I can only speak as I found at Brighton and there appeared to be no daylight as far as getting a new stadium is concerned."

More Seagulls stuff at thisisthealbion.co.uk