Matthew Wicks has spoken of his dismay at the way his fortunes deteriorated with Albion.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United schoolboy started his 16-month stint with the Seagulls as a title team regular.

He finished it as a frustrated onlooker, unable to claim a place on the bench.

The left-sided stopper, bought from Peterborough for £25,000 following a loan spell, contributed 24 appearances to Albion's Third Division championship campaign.

A hamstring injury ruled him out of the run-in and it has all gone horribly wrong for the 23-year-old this season after former manager Micky Adams bought Simon Morgan from Fulham in the summer to forge a formidable defensive partnership with Danny Cullip.

Wicks made only one League start under Adams and one under Peter Taylor.

Andy Crosby, disappointed by a lack of first team opportunities, left for Oxford and now Wicks has dropped back down to Division Three as well with Hull in a swap deal with David Lee after falling behind teenager Adam Virgo in the pecking order.

Wicks said: "I loved living down here. It has been the happiest time of my career in that respect. I had a nice house and they are a great bunch of lads.

"Last year was brilliant, apart from the injury. I played what I considered a decent part.

"I just decided I had to get out. If I had stayed here I would have gone downhill, because I don't think there was any future for me."

Wicks wants to rebuild his career with the sleeping giants of the basement division.

He made his debut for the Tigers as one of three centre halves in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at leaders Plymouth and has signed a two and a half year contract with Brian Little's side.

"The chairman is ambitious, they are moving into a new all-seater stadium and it is a big club," Wicks said.

"Hull is the eighth biggest city in England. If we can get promotion this season then I think it could be like a runaway train which just keeps going, so I am excited about joining them."

Wicks made a big impression on Little as long ago as October 2000, when he scored and starred in a 2-0 victory for the Seagulls at Hull.

Little's assistant Dave Moore said: "Matthew did well against us last season and he's a player that Brian has certainly seen a lot off. He's a left-sided centre back, which is something we haven't had since we have been at the club.

"Matthew's had the experience of a Division Three promotion campaign. That could prove vital for us."

Taylor appreciated Wicks' desire to get away. "Matthew was a young star early on with Manchester United and Arsenal, then he went to Crewe and Peterborough, so he''s had a taste of League football.

"I understand anybody at any age wanting that. That is why I feel a little bit sorry for Geoff Pitcher at the moment.

"He has come out of non-League to play in the League and at the moment it is not happening for him, so we are letting him out on loan.

"The hardest job for a manager is picking 11 players when you have got 24 in the squad. I would be very frustrated in the same situation if I had still been playing.

"David Lee will be a very good one later on. I am happy to take a player for the future if the one here doesn't want to be here because he isn't in the team."

Taylor has stuck with the nucleus of the squad, but a rebuilding process is now well under way at the fringes.

The difficulty with the group he inherited was the number of relatively experienced players outside the starting X1. Albion are not Manchester United and it was always going to be impossible to keep them happy long-term on a diet of reserve team and LDV Vans Trophy football.

Taylor has injected youth in the shape of former Southend duo Daniel Webb and Lee. Junior Lewis is also poised to join the Seagulls on loan from Leicester.

Revolution was not the requirement given the success under Adams. Taylor, the man who handed David Beckham the captaincy of a fledgling England team, has sensibly opted for evolution.

"I do feel the squad could do with a few more younger legs in it, so I've got two young and hungry ones in," he added. "I am interested in Junior Lewis and he is 28, so that would balance it up."