ALBION chairman Dick Knight is trying to stave off a boardroom revolt over the future of manager Mark McGhee.

The Argus understands the board is split over whether McGhee should remain in charge following the Seagulls' relegation from the Championship.

Knight is strongly in favour of the Scot keeping his job but a major investor is believed to be leading a campaign to oust McGhee.

The power struggle is delaying decisions being made on nine players out of contract.

McGhee's cause was not helped by yesterday's closing 5-1 home defeat by bogey side Stoke.

The players were booed off by fans at Withdean and Albion have ended the season at the foot of the table, 12 points adrift of safety, although they were still in with a chance of staying up until the 2-0 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago.

"It was painful," McGhee said. "It was hard to bear but our season finished with the Sheffield Wednesday game.

"It was very disappointing to lose like that but irrelevant as well in the overall scheme of things.

"I think it's understandable that they were (booed off) but it is disappointing, because I think they've given everything and this, like Sheffield Wednesday, was one game too many for us. We just couldn't get up for it.

"You have got to understand how gutted these players are at being relegated and that has taken a huge amount out of them."

The Albion team torn apart by a hat-trick by 18-year-old Stoke striker Adam Rooney included three of the out-of-contract players, Guy Butters, Richard Carpenter and Alexis Nicolas.

Kerry Mayo - a substitute for yesterday's seventh straight defeat against the Potters - injured skipper Charlie Oatway, Gary Hart, Jason Dodd and loaned out strikers Mark McCammon and Chris McPhee have also not been told yet whether they have a future at the club.

McGhee said: "The players need to know. They should know already but it's not been possible for all sorts of reasons. I would like to be able to tell them on Tuesday morning.

"I've got no idea what the budget is and that is what I am waiting to hear. It makes it difficult for the players. Some of them who played don't have contracts and we've asked them to give blood.

"They are in limbo at the moment and that's difficult. Guy Butters, for example, has given everything this season but he was playing without knowing whether it was his last game for the club.

"He has obviously been part of a disappointing performance but for him to be booed off was a shame, considering what he has given the club in the time I have been here."

McGhee, who still has a year left on his contract, is pressing ahead with plans for low-cost additions to his young squad as Albion try to bounce back in League One next season.

He said: I will be away watching games on Wednesday and next Saturday. We are looking again, as we have done, in every corner for a player for nothing, to try to find a nugget no-one else has uncovered.

"You can't get promoted, even out of League One, with a youth team. You have to have experience. We have got to try to box clever in the transfer market and try to find a couple of free transfers with a bit more experience than the players coming through the youth team."