Brighton defender Adam Virgo has backed Steve Coppell as the man to revive the League One strugglers.

Coppell has emerged as the favourite to return to the club he left in 2003 and take over from Russell Slade, who was sacked on Sunday.

Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom is thought to have made the former Crystal Palace and Reading boss his No.1 target, although he insists he has a number of candidates in mind.

And Virgo has thrown his weight behind the growing clamour to bring the 54-year-old back to the South Coast. He told The Argus: "If Steve is the man to come in he will get my full support.

"He knows the club and I genuinely believe he wanted to stay here the first time, but the new ground was too far away then from becoming a reality and he had a fantastic opportunity at Reading.

"He is a very quiet manager but, although he is not a tall man, he has a presence and respect and that is what we need in the club as well."

Bloom is not showing his hand yet and will this week compile a shortlist of names while director of football Martin Hinshelwood takes temporary charge.

"It's so critical to get this decision right for the football club that it wouldn't be right to put a timescale on it," he said.

"I'd like to do it as soon as possible, but much more important is to make sure we have the right man.

"I have some candidates in mind and I've been inundated with calls from various people. It's now about going through the list, doping our due diligence and speaking to the potential candidates."