BRIGHTONS LONG JOURNEY FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION TO THE PROMISED LAND OF EUROPEAN...
0Brightons long journey from the brink of extinction to the promised land of European football\n\nOn a normal Friday evening in April 2001. a Brighton and Hove Albion supporter logged onto the North Stand chat forum online because he wanted to reminisce. Brighton were on the verge of promotion from the Third Division. To fully experience joy. this supporter argued. we should reflect on what has come before. His thoughts turned to the half time break at Hereford in 1997. which was ultimately seen as the day Brighton saved themselves. “I still remember that feeling and will never forget it. The council had already formally rejected the proposed plan for Patcham Court Farm. Archer had already agreed to sell it to a development company called Chartwell. And most unforgivably. the clubs articles of association were amended to omit a clause stipulating that the clubs shareholders could not derive any financial benefit from the sale. The clubs articles of association were amended so that they were from would benefit from any sale of the Goldstone.” says supporter Brian Cowling. “Two supporters with accounting backgrounds. Paul Samrah and the late Paul Whelch. discovered this. Archer had set four conditions under which he would resign. and the consortium met them. But then he refused to show them the companys financial statements and essentially refused to get involved. The abandonment of a department did little to make Brighton competitive. With Case unable to inspire or distract from the Civil War. the results were frightening. Brighton won their first league game of the season and then took 10 points from their next 21 games. When Case was finally sacked in December. it ended up bottom of the Football League.\n\n#news