Brighton and Hove Albion - Features

Summer Departures

by Scott McCarthy - 8th August 2009

Name: Kerry Mayo
Where now: Retired

After 14 years loyal service, two league winners medals and a play-off final win, Kerry Mayo has been released for the second time in his Brighton career. This time though, it is for good thanks to a combination of no Micky Adams old pals act policy, and the fact that injuries have taken their toll and retirement has followed. A loyal servant to the club who will now not get the chance to play at his fourth Albion home ground at Falmer, we would take the opportunity to wish the Ginger Prince the best for the future

Name: John Sullivan
Where now: Millwall

Looked like he had finally made the breakthrough to the first team during a run when Michel Kuipers had his annual absence through injury. Still young for a keeper at 21, Sullivan appears to have been a victim of the fact he was the one keeper out of contract, and Mr Slade wanted to bring in his own man. If he can establish himself at Millwall and continue the progress he appeared to make last season, it could be a release that the Albion come to regret in future years.

Name: Jake Robinson
Where now: Shrewsbury Town

After years of people talking about his potential, the club have appeared to finally run out of patience following Robinson's release. Looked like he had the goods to be a future star with flashes of brilliance towards the end of the 2004-05 season and a decent goalscoring return in 2006-07, but ultimately two seasons of underachievement have cost him dear. If Shrewsbury can get him confident and banging in the goals, then he has the ability to do well at League Two level and rebuild what looked like a promising career

Name: Doug Loft
Where now: Port Vale

After finally breaking into the first team during the run that secured League One survival, Doug Loft can probably consider himself unlucky to be a Port Vale player for the coming season. Looked a decent prospect last season with some intelligent play, but Mr Slade obviously thinks that he is not going to be good enough for where he wants the side to be this season. The Albion's loss should be Port Vales gain if Micky Adams actually plays him

Name: Tommy Fraser
Where now: Port Vale

Despite playing his part in the survival run in, like Doug Loft, Fraser finds himself joining Port Vale. A solid defensive player who always gives 100%, Fraser's ability is limited by the fact his nose tends to bleed if he ends up too far into the opposition half. Should do OK at League Two level, but from what he showed during his time at Withdean he is not a player who is good enough to play in the Championship, and if that is where the Albion want to be then Mr Slade's somewhat harsh decision is understandable.

Name: Adam Hinshelwood
Where now: Aldershot Town

If you looked up the definition of "injury prone" in the dictionary, then it would have a picture of Adam Hinshelwood next to it. Ironically, it was when he finally got fit and back in the team that the decision has been made to release him. Before his constant knee trouble, Hinshelwood was called up to the England under-21 squad, and if he can regain full match fitness and get back to his best, then Aldershot should have themselves one of the best defenders in League Two. That is a very big 'if' though.

Name: Lloyd Owusu
Where now: Adelaide United

The man whose goals kept the Albion up last season turned down the offer of a new contract in search of fame and fortune on the convict island of Australia. If constant injuries to Glen Murray and Nicky Forster persist it will mean that Owusu's goals will be hard to replace, and the Albion will have to be hoping that the money shelled out on Liam Dickinson proves to be worth it.

Name: Chris Birchall
Where now: Los Angeles Galaxy

Put simply, a bloody unbelievable move that shows the MLS up for the joke league that it is. For a man who did sod all in a side that was very nearly relegated into the bottom tier of English football to be playing alongside star names such as Landon Donovan, Abel Xavier and David Beckham is a pretty spectacular rise, probably helped by the fact he can call himself a Trinidad and Tobago international. Never had his heart in it when wearing a Brighton shirt, the Galaxy's gain can certainly not be viewed as an Albion loss.

Name: Jason Jarrett
Where now: ???

Another one of Micky Adams desperate January transfer window signings that was promptly dropped on Mr Slade's arrival, Jarrett, much like Birchall, looked like he didn't really care about the relegation fight and was just happy to pick up a pay cheque.

Name: Sebastian Carole
Where now: ???

Signing from Darlington, Carole was probably a victim of circumstance on his return to Withdean - an attacking player who has tendency to come off the pitch with whiter shorts than he went on with was never going to be what was needed in a relegation battle. Went on trial with Blackpool following his release, but would probably be better suited to a League One or Two team - preferably one in which he can get away with never making a tackle.

Name: Jonny Dixon
Where now: Retired

Despite being only 25, Jonny Dixon has decided to retire to concentrate on his music business. While this sounds incredibly flair on its own, it becomes even more so when you consider the rumours that he is dating Holly Valance and that despite having the most English-sounding name in the world, he is actually Spanish. Never really made the breakthrough following his arrival from Aldershot for £55,000, his delightful taste in knitted jumpers, as shown in his signing-on press conference, will no doubt be firmly missed.

Name: Joel Lynch
Where now: Nottingham Forest

Having spent virtually all of last season on-loan at Forest, it was a case of 'when', not 'if' he would move to the City Ground on a permanent basis. A want away player who probably should have gone for more than £200,000 given the rare combination of being English, a defender and having a working left foot. Would probably be pulling on an Albion shirt this season had Micky Adams not insisted on constantly trotting out Colin Hawkins in his place.