Steve Coppell is delighted seeing Brighton and Crystal Palace in good shape.

Now 65, he is pleased to see Albion and Palace in the Premier League after both have known their fair share of troubles.

He told Brighton's website before last night's defeat to Palace: “I remember that when Ron Noades sold Palace to Mark Goldberg in 1998, within eight months he had lost £40m, so you look at that and see how quickly you can lose the thread at a football club. We had 20 months of administration at Palace. It was very close to going under.

“And from managing at Brighton, you saw how hard people had worked for that club to survive when its back had been very much against the wall. You need key people to make the difference. Tony Bloom came in and has put a lot of money in and he must be so proud to see the way it is now in comparison to what was really a hand-to-mouth existence at Withdean. And now it's so fabulously competitive at the top level of the English game.

"I'm so pleased for Brighton. It was always a strong club when Mike Bamber was chairman, with a great supporter base. It's great to see those two clubs with the rivalry they have and matches between them being so significant again. And I think I'm in a unique position to appreciate that."