Albion goalkeeping find Michel Kuipers has been hailed as Kelly's hero.

Boss Micky Adams believes Mike Kelly's expertise has helped turn the big Dutchman into a record-breaking No. 1.

Adams drafted in Kelly, a former England goalkeeping coach and colleague on the backroom staff at Nottingham Forest, part way through the season.

Kelly has been casting his eye over the shot-stoppers alongside ex-Albion custodian John Keeley.

Adams admits he had grave reservations about the Seagulls' goalkeeping situation when Mark Walton suddenly left for Cardiff last summer.

But Kuipers, signed on a free transfer from Bristol Rovers, kept three-quarters of the record-busting 24 clean sheets in Albion's championship campaign.

Now he has been rewarded with a new two-year contract, as we revealed yesterday.

"I was absolutely gutted when Mark Walton disappeared to Cardiff after he had agreed a contract with me," said Adams.

"At that stage the goalkeeping situation worried me massively, because Michel is raw.

"He had hardly played any League games, so to perform the way he has is magnificent.

"I think that is all down to having specialised goalkeeping coaches in John Keeley and Mike Kelly.

"Mike was England's goalkeeping coach and here he is at Brighton helping me out.

"He would improve any goalkeeper in the country and he has certainly done that with Michel."

Will Packham, Kuipers' understudy following the free transfer departure of Mark Cartwright, has been awarded a new one-year contract.