Who will lend the Albion £25million?

But a cautionary footnote to this is that their figure was actually more than one in seven before Micky Adams' return '” a probable testament that the credit crunch is going to be part and parcel of domestic football for the foreseeable future.

This was highlighted this week when Bristol Rovers shelved ambitious re-development plans on their Memorial Stadium for at least 12 months.

Which brings me back to my recurring worry.

It's no slight on Dick Knight or anyone connected with the club who have all done, and continue to do, a great job.

But the Albion have made no secret of the fact that they have got to get a commercial mortgage for Falmer in the region of 25-30million.

So just what kind of institution is going to lend them that in the current financial climate?

And, more to the point, how do you service a debt like that?

Let alone repay it?

Apologies if I have missed it, but if I haven't, I have to say I'm very disappointed that the retirement of Les Rogers from the Albion's youth set-up, after 25 years, has not been recognised by the club.

Les has discovered and coached a large number of players.

They include Gareth Barry, who went on to play for Aston Villa in the Premiership and for England on the international stage.

I know Gareth is eternally grateful for all that Les did for him. This was highlighted when he played in the last FA Cup Final at the old Wembley Stadium, in 2000, and he made sure Les was there to watch it.

Besides, regardless of what chairman Knight or the Albion say or do, Les, you are far too young to retire, and I will certainly be calling on you, on occasions next season, to help my team.

Many would say that Paul Gascoigne is his own worst enemy and the architect of his own misfortune. Others that things might have worked out differently had he signed for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester instead of Terry Venables and the bright lights and the streets of London.

But we all can only think what might have been, as a potential tragedy looms.

Who, of Gazza's famous friends, have been there when he really needed them?

I'm off to Epsom on Saturday with Mrs Hart, on a 50th birthday celebration '” neither mine nor hers, I hasten to add '” but while I'm out of town witnessing one of the greatest horse races in the world, a special charity football game will be taking place at Highdown with a 2.30pm kick off.

The very worthy causes of the Adur Special Needs Project and Chestnut Tree House will benefit as The Elms FC take on an Elms Regulars XI, and among the regulars are three local footballing luminaries.

You could almost replace the names Sinatra, Martin and Davis jnr, with the trio of Steve Stent, Mark Croft and Dean Bradley '” such is their ilk in local footballing circles. Good luck, lads, and I hope you are not too stiff on Sunday.

On the subject of local football legends, Geoff Stanbridge has asked me to point out that, contrary to what I wrote a few weeks ago in this column, he has not retired and is still playing football on a regular basis '” despite being nearer 50 than he is to 45 . . .

And finally, Euro 2008 is upon us, and I've been asked to make the obligatory prediction.

Well, with live football on television at saturation point, I forecast that the TV viewing figures will be some of the lowest since ratings began.

As for the football, perhaps it's finally time for the Spanish to win something?

So that's them out in the group stages . . .

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