ALBION wing wizard Rod Thomas has been told to fit in or forget weaving his magic.

Thomas came on in the second half of the Seagulls' last home game at Gillingham to end a four month injury lay-off.

Manager Micky Adams liked what he saw in the 1-1 draw with Rochdale, but Thomas will have to heed his instructions.

"Rod is a little diamond, a gem in terms of football ability," said Adams.

"But I will have a pattern of play next year and he will either fit into it or he won't. If he does great, if he doesn't then he won't be here."

Richard Barker headed Albion in front, but Andy Barlow bundled in a last minute equaliser.

Barker is one of 17 players out of contract and Adams has pledged to look every one of them in the eye when he tells them their fate over the next 24 hours.

"I will look them in the eye when I tell them if they have got a future or not with Brighton, because I am straight and honest," Adams said.

"I would like to think all of them want to be a part of what I will be trying to achieve. Unfortunately there are going to be casualties. That's why I get paid.

"There have been a lot of rumours about who is staying and who is going. The players aren't daft and they understand that.

"I didn't see much of them last week. I let Alan Cork deal with them.

"I just wanted them to go out on Saturday and play for themselves. They have been good professionals for the five weeks I have been here and I take my hat off to them."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.