Gary Hart is determined to help Albion bounce straight back into the Championship.

The versatile utility player will begin his ninth campaign at the Seagulls in August after agreeing a new one year contract.

Hart, 29, says relegation back to League One was the worst experience of his career and wants to make up for it by achieving promotion at the first attempt.

He said: "Last season was the most horrible we have had, it was even worse than the last time we went down a few years ago.

"We just couldn't get going and it was so frustrating for everyone. We couldn't get the goals we needed and struggled to get a forward and then when we got one, it was too late.

"I don't want to go through that again. I want a good season and my aim this year is to get another promotion on my CV.

"I want to make the play-offs at least. If we finish halfway next year then a lot of people won't be happy because we all want to go up. It is a big ask but hopefully I have about five years left of my career and I don't want to be sitting around in the bottom leagues.

"I want to be playing in the Championship for a few more years, that is my aim more than ever, and after last year and the disappointment of going down, it has made me really hungry for success again."

Hart, runner-up to Paul McShane as player of the season, was offered a one-year extension to his contract along with Richard Carpenter, Charlie Oatway, Guy Butters and Kerry Mayo.

He said: "A year is fine but everyone wants a little bit longer. Two years would have been perfect for me but the club is not doing that at the moment.

"They are obviously covering themselves because there is not bundles of money and they need to get every little piece out of every player. "You can understand why they have done it and I'm happy with it."