Albion under-19s' defene their Youth Alliance play-off title could be hit by a Football League deadline.

The Seagulls insist they will finish the qualifying stage up to three fixtures short as the organising body want them completed by February 24.

A series of postponements due to bad weather has left high-riding Albion with matches against Luton, Southend and Portsmouth to re-arrange.

Martin Hinshelwood, the club's director of youth, said: "We might be able to fit in Southend on the 24th, but I can't see how we are going to re-arrange the other two games by the deadline.

"Hopefully we will have enough points to qualify anyway but it would be disappointing if we missed out because we couldn't complete our fixtures.

"Ironically, our league game against Portsmouth this Saturday has been called off and we are now playing them away in the Youth Alliance Cup instead.

"It is the third time we've had to re-arrange the tie, the second attempt was called off this week, but really we would have rather play the League game.

"We spoke to the Football League about it on Tuesday and it was like talking to a brick wall. We've had a lot of trouble over the whole thing."

The away fixture with Southend was postponed from last Saturday because of a waterlogged pitch.

Albion secretary Derek Allan feels the Cup competition should be cancelled.

He said: "It would enable us to try and complete our league programme. I'm not blaming the Football League because nobody could have predicted the amount of rain. But I don't see how the fixtures can be completed otherwise."

Seagulls will be without midfielder Conor McCurdy for the Pompey clash because the first team's fixture at Rochdale on Tuesday being called off.

If the game had gone ahead McCurdy would have completed a three-match suspension.