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. And Virgo has thrown his weight behind the growing clamour to bring the 54-year-old back to the south coast.

"If Steve is the man to come in he will get my full support," Virgo told The Argus.

"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."