In response to Robin McOuat (Letter's, June 20), I find it incredible there are still people who are so entirely misinformed on the matter of Brighton and Hove Albion's league performance.

It is a remarkable achievement that the team had returned to the second tier, not once but twice since the Archer, Stanley and Belotti regime came to an end.

The reason the Seagulls have finally slipped to the third tier yet again is we can't compete at this financial level until we have the stadium we deserve, which will increase our turnover fourfold or more.

The money raised for the stadium will not be short-term loans - that does not make good business sense.

Long-term loans which are sustainable are the only sensible and viable option. The board will not risk building a stadium if they fear it will not be completed.

By keeping the club afloat thus far, they have proved themselves to be shrewd businessmen and that will continue.

In fact, this is a good opportunity to applaud the work of Dick Knight, Martin Perry et al for keeping the club alive and providing many happy occasions for thousands of football fans - apart from the odd relegation, of course.

Losing the fight for the Falmer community stadium, however, could very well sign our death warrant.

We live in an area cocooned by the Downs and other planning applications are bound to be met with the same ferocity that Lewes District Council and Falmer Parish council have conjured up. There is only one site and that is Falmer.

One thing Mr McOuat is right about is that his statement is not a technically valid planning argument, Perhaps it is best to keep to speculation and leave the facts to the experts and those involved in the project.

-Paul Baron, Brighton