IT'S almost reached the point of running out of superlatives and time to consult Roget's Thesaurus when trying to describe the Albion's rollercoaster season, the Easter weekend being another case in point.
A home encounter against fellow strugglers Swindon Town on Easter Saturday started well enough, with a 1-0 lead at half-time, before a mad 13-minute capitulation at the start of the second period saw the Seagulls concede three goals.
Despite pull
ing one back in stoppage time, the Albion looked down and out at 5pm and the mood on the phone-in was sombre to say the least.
Fast forward 48 hours and a hard-fought win at Colchester, aided and abetted by results elsewhere, gives the Albion yet another lifeline.
If the Albion were passengers on the Titanic, the ship has sunk, they are in the water, yet it appears they have at least three chances to get on a lifeboat that will take them to safety. The final four games, Oldham and Stockport at home, Bristol Rovers and Huddersfield away, represent the very final place on the lifeboat. If they don't take this chance, then it truly is curtains.
Despite clear evidence to the contrary, I've not changed my albeit sentimental stance, as I believe the Albion will get out of it. Having done the League One predictor on the BBC website, I have them finishing on 50 points with Cheltenham, Hereford, Hartlepool and Northampton finishing below them.
When and if that happens, then the hard work will really begin. This season has been, for a number of reasons, which I will detail in a couple of weeks, shambolic, and must never happen again.
What is needed at the Albion in the summer is the manager, whoever that might be, starting at the beginning of June with a blank canvas.
In my opinion I think we have seen enough qualities in current boss Russell Slade for him to be given an opportunity next season.And by blank canvas I mean the fact that he decides his backroom staff, and which players he's going to retain and sign, and inherits no-one he doesn't want.
In short, he manages the football club, just him, not the chairman, not other factions on the board, just him.
The chairman obviously has a watching brief, and attends matches and runs the club off the field, but ultimately it's time to let the manager manage.
If that's allowed to happen, with the right person in charge, and I believe Slade could be that person, then success will return to the Withdean, and the Albion will move onto Falmer as a reborn vibrant entity.
Had a great night over at the Metropole in Brighton last Wednesday for the annual Hove Boxing Club's dinner show, including a very impressive performance from Worthing's very own James Child.
Another fighter on the bill that night was a certain Chris Eubank Junior, who is certainly a chip off the old block, and despite his career still being only in its infancy, many are already tipping him for great things.
To be fair, I still think it's very early days to be talking like that. I still recall my interview with Joe Bugner Junior on the BBC. He stated that in his experience growing up with a household name shut as many doors as it opened and ultimately it probably stopped him fulfilling his potential.
With the Ryman Youth League having, at the 11th hour, reschulded a Worthing youth team fixture at Woodside, tonight's Roy Pook Memorial Final between Worthing Minors and Ferring is now rescheduled for next Wednesday, April 22, 7pm kick off.
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