Gary Stevens is not surprised his former Spurs team-mate Ossie Ardiles and Diego Maradona are keen to invest in Albion.

Ex-Seagulls star Stevens believes the Argentine legends' interest should be viewed positively by fans.

The Argus broke the news yesterday that Ardiles and Maradona want to get involved in the running of an English club with potential.

Albion have been identified as an ideal candidate, providing the move to a new stadium at Falmer receives Government approval later this month.

Ardiles is currently kicking his heels at home in Spain after he was sacked in the summer by Japanese club Tokyo Verdy 1969.

Stevens, who played with Ardiles at Spurs after scoring in the 1983 FA Cup final for Albion, said: "The link with Brighton doesn't surprise me. When you have spent your life in football you want to stay in football.

"The vast majority of footballers who cannot play any more certainly believe they can coach, have ideas on how to run a club and think if they had a big say they would be successful."

Ardiles won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978, a feat repeated by Maradona eight years later.

Although from slightly different eras, there is a strong bond between Ardiles, 53, and the 45-year-old Maradona.

Stevens said: "At one stage Ossie was representing Maradona. When Ossie had his testimonial at White Hart Lane Maradona came over for him and played in a Spurs shirt, so they are close."

Stevens had a close-up view of the incident which turned Maradona from the greatest player of his generation into a cheat in the eyes of English fans.

Stevens was an England substitute watching from the bench when Maradona scored his infamous Hand of God' goal which helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Stevens believes Albion supporters should not hold that against Maradona providing that, as recent images suggest, he is over the drug-addiction which left him bloated and close to death.

"I think you need to be positive about it," Stevens said. "Everyone needs to be given a chance.

"If he is a reformed character then fabulous, if not then I am not convinced I would want him to be associated with me.

"Ossie would not want anything to tarnish his name or reputation, because he is held in high regard.

"Involving high-profile people, as long as they have the right business acumen themselves or the right management alongside them, is fine.

"We've seen the potential at Brighton in the past when they were working their way through the leagues.

"If you look at the gates the club were getting, the fans that went to Wembley, there is a huge catchment area and Brighton is now a huge city. The potential is pretty enormous.

"The 10,000 fans I joined on Brighton seafront last week for the march for Falmer emphasised that."

Two more former Tottenham team-mates of Ardiles - Exeter City's director of football Steve Perryman and Paul Miller - are connected with his bid to return to English football.

Ardiles still has a home in England, as well as Spain, and Stevens said: "I would think compared to the majority he is a wealthy man.

"How wealthy I don't know but seriously wealthy people often want to be involved with high-profile people.

"Steve Perryman is a wealthy man. My understanding of Paul Miller is that he does not have particular wealth of his own but moves in circles where there is a lot of money, in and around the City of London."

Albion insist there has been no contact so far between Ardiles and the club and the fact that chairman Dick Knight is on holiday in Spain is entirely coincidental.

What is certain is that Ardiles would love to be back in the English game.

If that turns out to be at Albion then lots of things could change but probably not the kit.

The Seagulls already play in the pale blue and white stripes of Argentina.