Peter Taylor believes his former assistant Bob Booker would make a good choice as Albion's new boss.

The club were today beginning the search for their eighth manager in the last nine years after Taylor, who took over last October, walked out after talks with chairman Dick Knight about the amount of money he would have to spend on improving the squad which clinched promotion to Division One.

Booker is one of several names already being linked with the post while Albion say they have no plans to appoint a caretaker manager.

Others in the frame include ex-Seagull Steve Cotterill, who has taken unfashionable Cheltenham to the brink of promotion to Division Two, and former Wimbledon boss Terry Burton who made the Dons First Division play-off contenders despite having to sell many of his best players.

But Taylor believes the club should look no further than the man who came to the club as assistant to Taylor's predecessor Micky Adams.

He said: "I would like to see Bob starting as a manager. Why not with Albion? Bob has been a tremendous assistant and has the respect of the players.

"He would be be a good, very hard working manager if that's what he wants to do. Bob knows you can only be an assistant for so long."

Booker said: "I haven't been offered the job so I can't really comment about it.

"But I'm ambitious, it's why you go into management. You serve your apprenticeship as a youth team manager and then the reserves and the next call from there is manager."

Booker believes whoever takes over will be in a great position to maintain the club's progress which has seen them win back-to-back championships.

"It's a big job now and whoever comes won't get a better start because the club is flying at the moment," he added.

"But at this moment I feel very sad. I was building up a nice relationship with Peter although he never signed a contract so there's always that feeling at the back of your mind that he might not stay. One thing's for sure, there's never a dull moment at this club!"

Chairman Knight has already begun the search for Taylor's successor.

He said: "I have my thoughts. We need a new manager sooner rather than later and intend to have the appointment in place well in advance of next season."

But Knight insisted he will not break the bank trying to land the club's third manager in eight months.

Taylor walked out because he was unhappy with the budget and concerns over the club's plans for a new stadium at Falmer.

Knight said: "I gave Peter a substantial increase on this season with a guaranteed minimum.

"But I wasn't willing to put this club in debt with an unrealistic budget, we've been down that road and we don't want to go there again.

"The new appointment will have to share our ambitions for the club and work within that budget."

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