Brighton and Hove Albion - Features

Summer Departures

by Scott McCarthy - 6th August 2010

Name: Michel Kuipers
Where now: Crawley Town

One of the most popular players in the clubs recent history, Kuipers has made the short move up the A23 to join big-spending Blue Square Premier team Crawley. Having spent a decade at the club, including two championship wins and a promotion through the play-offs, the Former Dutch Marine was a fan favourite for his passion, his shot stopping ability and his general personality. A string of serious injuries, including a car crash, meant that he never got to play higher than Championship level, but he will always be welcomed back to the Albion with open arms - as shown by the offer of an off-the-field role once his playing days come to an end at the Broadfield Stadium.

Name: Andrew Crofts
Where now: Norwich City

Former club-captain Crofts was subject to an undisclosed bid from Norwich, believed to be in the region of £300,000. The offer was deemed too good for the club to turn down, and so after just one season the Welsh international finds himself moving onto pastures new and a crack at the Championship after five goals in 44 games during his Withdean spell.

Name: Adam Virgo
Where now: Yeovil Town

The Albions most expensive export has seen his second spell at the club end in total contrast to the first. The man whom was sold to Celtic for £1.5m back in 2005 this time leaves after not having his contract renewed by Gus Poyet. A player who Micky Adams was so desperate to fit into his side that he ended up playing as a right midfielder on one occasion was never going to find similar favour with Poyet, and if he wasn't good enough to hold down a regular berth at centre half then time was always likely to be up for the defender, who now links up with a plethora of Albion old-boys at Yeovil.

Name: Dean Cox
Where now: Leyton Orient

The former-youth team product burst onto the scene with a series of superb performances under Mark McGhee at the start of the 2006-07 season. However, much like his best friend Jake Robinson he flattered to deceive after, rarely reaching those heights again. A string of disciplinary issues under Dean Wilkins lead to questions about his attitude, and with Poyet dispensing with other players who were rumored to be disruptive influences in the changing room coupled with his poor form in the second half of the season, it was hardly surprising to see the winger released to reunite with Russell Slade at Leyton Orient. Shouldn't be missed by the Albion, but probably will be by the bars in Haywards Heath's Broadway.

Name: Nicky Forster
Where now: Brentford

A barney with Gus Poyet was never likely to be resolved, so it is with a heavy heart that most Albion fans have bidden Forster goodbye. A natural goalscorer despite his age, his goals made going to Withdean slightly bearable during the three year spell that he spent at the club. He returns to former club Brentford and, should he stay injury free, will almost certainly hit double figures for the Bees next season - and if he nets against the Seagulls, it will be interesting to see whether he produces a traditional wind-up of the opposition fans with his celebration

Name: Liam Dickinson
Where now: Barnsley

A year after arriving from Derby County for £300,000, Dickinson finds himself moving on to pastures new after a disappointing spell on the south coast. His time at Withdean was blighted with questions about his attitude, which ultimately came to ahead when he was dropped after being photographed in The Sun carrying a passed out girl through the streets of Brighton in the early hours of the morning after a heavy night on the town, before phoning in sick to training the next day. Like Dean Cox, he fell foul of Poyet not wanting disruptive players in the changing room, and following a loan spell at Peterborough at the end of last term, he steps up to the Championship with Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.

Name: Colin Hawkins
Where now: Sporting Fingal

Most people would consider "Calamity" to be a poor player given his spell at the club, but we think his nickname sums it up nicely - it was just pure bad luck. Whether it was giving away penalty after penalty, scoring unbelievable own goals or getting sent off just 90 seconds after replacing a team mate whom had also been dismissed, the Hawk's spell with the club was memorable, if nothing else. Now at League of Ireland team Sporting Fingal, it looks like he was continued where he left off at Withdean, as within days of arriving back on the Emerald Isle he had his car stolen with his belongings in it

Name: Sebastian Carole
Where now: ???

Carole has now left the Albion for a third time. Signed by Poyet in January because of his achievements under him at Leeds United, he rarely got the chance to shine, which did not surprise Seagulls fans given the fact he was an abject failure on his second return a year ago. Invited back to do pre-season, Gustavo has not offered him a deal and so the Frenchman once again finds himself a free agent - expect to see him back in an Albion shirt in January 2011.

Name: Craig Davies
Where now: Chesterfield

Barn Door never really recovered from his poor start to life at Withdean. Another one of those players that come under the umbrella of "Micky Adams Desperation Signing", Davies' Albion career was summed up when ballooning a shot into orbit when a matter of yards away from goal away at Milton Keynes just before Russell Slade's Great Escape act sprung into life. One goal in 21 games wasn't a particularly good return for a striker that a fair amount of cash was splashed on, and loan spells last season at Yeovil and Port Vale signalled the end was near, and it has come with a free transfer to reunite with his former Oldham boss John Sheridan at Chesterfield

Name: Jake Wright
Where now: Oxford United

Another big money Russell Slade signing that has been shown the door by Poyet, Wright was bought in to cover the left back position until Jim McNulty was recovered from his kidney problems but soon found the step up to the Football League from Crawley a bridge too far. Probably not helped by the fact he was more of a centre back than full back, Wright was sent on-loan to Oxford and helped them secure promotion into the Football League with victory in the Blue Square Premier play-off final before securing a permanent move to the Kassam Stadium.