Stunned at Sully exit
BACK in 1983, the Albion told a then teenage striker, Ian Wright, that after watching him over two trial games it was clear, in their opinion, he didn't have what it took to make it in the professional ranks.
As history later proved, the Albion got it spectacularly wrong.
Wright signed for Crystal Palace, then played for Arsenal and England, and won numerous honours and, at one point, broke the Gunners' all-time scoring record.
Over a quarter of century later, could it be a case of rejection dj vu for the Albion, as recently-discarded goalkeeper, John Sullivan, has signed for potential fellow League One play-off contenders, Millwall?
Having served his apprenticeship with the Seagulls, local boy Sullivan waited patiently for his first-team chance. And with an injury to Michel Kuipers, it came last season.
Despite playing in a team in the middle of a wretched run of results, he gave a very good account of himself and the prospect of him being the long-term successor to Kuipers between the sticks looked like a natural progression.
Sullivan's run in the team ended in somewhat controversial circumstances when he was replaced by Kuipers for the second leg of the JPT at Luton.
He had done nothing wrong but Kuipers was brought back into the team and then made a costly first-minute error.
It was a tough call and, ultimately, defeat at Kenilworth Road was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, and cost Micky Adams his job.
As for Sullivan, a subsequent injury and an inexplicable loan signing of another keeper before Russell Slade took over meant he never regained the keeper's jersey.
Despite that, the news he was being released by the Albion was met with widespread shock – even from sections inside the club.
So much so that Millwall, who had targeted Sullivan from the day his contract was not renewed, have delayed signing him because they wanted to investigate the background.
They just could not believe that the Albion had been so stupid to let him go.
I have mixed emotions over the whole situation. I've made no secret that John's family and mine know each other very well, and have made no bones about championing him in these pages and on the airwaves.
As an Albion fan, I believe we may have made another mistake of Ian Wright's proportions. But, as a Sullivan 'supporter', this is a huge opportunity for him, and I wish him every success.
Sometimes the job of a youth football manager is made harder with the opinions of various parents and relatives, so spare a thought for former Worthing Dynamo and Portsmouth apprentice, Nicky Stavrou, who is now living and coaching in Florida.
His under-14 goalkeeper provides a safe pair of hands but could Nicky sometimes be on tenterhooks, as the players' granddad is Hollywood Martial Arts legend, Chuck Norris?
Clearly not, as Nicky says, Chuck is a true gent and, while I'm not sure if the Missing In Action star will be up at Worthing United next Thursday, June 11, his grandson certainly will be.
Nicky's side are over in Sussex for a short tour and take on Ferring under-14's in a friendly at Lyons Way (7pm kick-off).
harty@tiscali.co.uk
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Weather for Worthing
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
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