The news when it came was out of the blue – completely unexpected. Micky Adams is back. Manager Dean Wilkins has been sidelined.

Brighton's successful season was over with a seventh place in League One, just short of the Championship play-offs.
Players, and fans, were taking a break from football when Chairman Dick Knight called a Press conference (my invite may have been lost in the post?). A smiling Micky Adams was produced, like a rabbit out of a hat. He returns to manage Brighton for a second time.

Express readers may think this is another "Steve King scenario". Actually it was the reverse. The Lewes Rooks let go of Steve King after being too successful, gaining a promotion that wasn't financial viable. Dean Wilkins was replaced after being judged as not capable of being successful enough, and not having the experience to get us back to the Championship quickly enough.

Dick Knight says that the Club board were unanimous in the decision to replace Wilkins with Adams. Clearly they think Micky will get more bums on seats (the season ticket sales were probably slow) and they desperately need promotion to the Championship in time for Falmer.

Initially there was a mixed reaction from Seagull fans. Many thought that Wilkins' treatment was harsh and unjustified, but most love Micky Adams and see him as the best man for the job. The fans Northstandchat website threads were red hot and as the implications sank in, whilst a majority thought Dean had been unfairly treated, the vast majority were overjoyed to have Micky back.

Here's the rub. Dick Knight softened the blow by asking Wilkins to stay on as first team coach. Understandably there hasn't been an early response. Wilkins is widely respected as a coach and of course worked under Micky Adams before.

Will there be job offers coming in? Adams says, "I'm looking forward to working alongside Dean Wilkins, the players and the rest of the coaching staff – and working with the Albion supporters – to try and get this club back into the Championship as we move forward towards our new home." Amen to that.

Adams was in charge in 2000/01, winning the Third Division championship, and then left the team on its way to the Division Two title in 2002.

After leaving Brighton he took Fulham to promotion and Leicester City into the Premiership. Mickey: "…to get the chance to manage a super football club like Brighton & Hove Albion again was an opportunity I couldn't turn down".

The new manager has agreed a three-year deal. My favourite Micky quote is along the lines of saying that within his contract he has to get Brighton back in the Championship in time for the first game at the new Falmer stadium (hopefully in August 2010) and then have us pushing for the Premiership where they belong. Time will tell, but I'm already looking forward to the new season.

A quick mention for ex-Albion favourite Chris McPhee. A 100 per cent player he was let go by Brighton and went to Torquay. He is now at Ebbsfleet United. On Saturday he scored the winning goal at Wembley - against Torquay! – in the FA Carlsberg Vase (I won't mention the penalty miss!).

Brighton fans had an , "Oh, Chris McPhee (repeat etc.), when will you score a goal for me?" chant. Another chant soon to be resurrected is "Micky Adams' blue and white army". Not so tuneful but satisfying.

In the end I'm pushed for space. I had hoped to talk about the players that are staying, and the 10 leaving. I hoped to cover Kevin Keehan, who was commercial manager for the Albion, taking over at Lewes, and the possible closer links between the Rooks and the Seagulls. Plus share thoughts on Crystal Palace (shame) and Mark McGhee!

But Micky Adams must take priority. There was a danger that with the exciting end to the Premiership, the Champions League final, the FA Cup etc. our Seagulls would take a back seat – but not anymore. Exciting times!