Albion manager Micky Adams is prepared to let former captain Gary Hobson leave on a free transfer.

Hobson is currently on a month's loan with the Football League's bottom club Chester.

New Chester boss Ian Atkins is keen to make the deal permanent and Adams revealed: "There won't be a fee involved.

"He has been a good servant to the club and his contract is up in the summer, so he has got to get himself sorted out."

Hobson, 27, joined Albion from his home town club Hull for £60,000 nearly four years ago.

Meanwhile, Adams has played down Ross Johnson's chances of a permanent move to Colchester.

The Brighton-born defender is on a month's loan at Layer Road and has so far helped the Second Division club to a hat-trick of victories.

Adams said: "The deal was that he has a month playing first team football, then comes back.

"It's up to Colchester to decide if they want to keep him, but I don't think I will let him stay there for another month."

Adams has knocked back a bid by Sutton to borrow winger John Westcott after they stalled on a proposed month's loan.

Westcott was ineligible for the Reserves' Sussex Senior Cup tie at Crawley last night, because he played in the competition for Bognor during an earlier loan spell.

The Argus revealed yesterday that loan striker Lorenzo Pinamonte is thinking over a £75,000 move to Brentford. Pinamonte joined Albion on loan from Bristol City six weeks ago.

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