The arrangement is until the end of the season when Brighton chairman Dick Knight will weigh-up his options again, which really depends on whether the Seagulls avoid relegation to the Football League's basement division.

As of Tuesday evening the Albion now find themselves six points short of a safety, but still with 36 points on the board to play for.

Slade, a very likeable and credible candidate, finds himself in almost a situation more akin to a parallel universe straight out of the works of HG Wells.

In the eyes of some he wasn't the preferred candidate. Knight's alleged courting of Jim Gannon, Paul Ince, Alan Pardew and Ady Boothroyd might have some people having some kind of hang-up but as regards Slade, nothing could be further from the truth.

Clearly he knows he wasn't first choice, but how many times is that the case in football?

He has the job now, albeit on a temporary contract, but he also has the belief that he can get Albion out of the relegation mire. All the supporters could do the decent thing and give him at least a chance.

A number of the supporters already believe that Slade is in a no-lose situation. A section of the support, although nowhere near a significant majority, have already written the Albion off.

Basically, if relegation occurs at the end of the season, he will be totally blameless. In many eyes the damage was done long before he arrived at the club. Some might say as far back as last May, when Dean Wilkins was sacked after finishing seventh last season.

The next 12 games are cup finals, starting with the Albion taking on Slade's former club Yeovil on Saturday. I know it is a cliché, but sometimes it is all about getting the rub of the green, although not all of their problems can be put down to this.

But the Seagulls have had some wretched luck this season. Perhaps they are due a change of fortune?

The Albion stewards at the Withdean have, down the years, come-in for a fair amount of criticism regarding their conduct.

But perhaps supporters need to go and see how other clubs operate before they have a go too much.

It's now almost ironic, but prior to Saturday's trip to Leyton Orient, it had always been one of my favourite away grounds, partly because of the travelling time and perhaps because it meant getting the chance to interview their charismatic chairman and owner, Barry Hearn.

Regardless of the Albion's 2-1 defeat last Saturday, I doubt Brisbane Road will be a ground that I will have any inclination to return to.

I'd actually go as far as to say that the welcome the Albion received at Millwall a couple of weeks ago was better than that on offer last Saturday.

Football fans are a unique breed and very passionate, but when does passion cross the line?

At nearly 45 and living in a alleged civilised society being called a ****, nonce, sexcase and supposed adults trying to spit at me whilst stewards looked on, really makes me think perhaps now is the time to start spending more time with the family on a Saturday afternoon.

So perhaps my faith in the beautiful game was restored a bit when, at Sunday lunchtime, I enjoyed a couple of drinks in the George and Dragon and met-up with Mark Croft, still playing on a Sunday for Knowles at nearly 50 years old, but looking more like 25.

Is he truly the Peter Pan of local football?

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Email the Herald: steve.bailey@worthingherald.co.uk