to return promptly from whence he came.

'The position was perilous,' said Gritt. 'We were 11 points adrift with 24 games to go. I wasn't a big name and I was portrayed as a puppet for the chairman and the chief executive.

'I didn't know what I was getting into with all the turmoil and not many thought we could turn it round but I was out of work and this was an opportunity.'

He replaced Jimmy Case and started in mid-December with a 3-0 win against fellow strugglers Hull.

Steve Gritt celebrates the draw at Hereford which ensured Brighton stayed in the League

Brighton's great escape in 1996-97 was their last season at their old Goldstone Ground home

'The club photographer came into the dressing room before the game asked to take athe fans and the people who brought the club back from the edge of extinction.'

Fish and chips were washed downed with beers on the coach back to the south coast and the young players spilled into the night amid pleas from senior colleagues to keep the celebrations in context.

They avoided relegation but only by two goals and were the second worst team in the Football League. Still, it had been emotional. They rolled back in at 6am.

Chris Hughton's side could have their promotion to the Premier League confirmed on Monday

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Gritt started the biggest in day of his managerial career by taking a phone call to say Millwall wanted him