Football: Brighton travel with renewed confidence

As they travel to Hull today, Brighton's fans are confident that this season's biggest battle - for the survival of the club - is almost over.

An agreement was made on Thursday between Brighton's current owners and a consortium led by Dick Knight, a local businessman and lifelong supporter, which will guarantee the future of the club. Full details of the deal, which may include a move to a new stadium only 500 yards from the Goldstone Ground, will be announced as soon as legal matters have been finalised.

Last night, Coral, the owners of the Hove greyhound stadium, confirmed that an approach has been made by Knight's consortium, seeking at least a temporary home.

Brighton supporters have campaigned for years against the way the club has been run, and have staged protests ranging from pitch invasions to match boycotts. They were particularly unhappy with the chairman Bill Archer, after he sold the Goldstone Ground, but it is believed he will remain at club.

Liz Costa, of the official supporters' club, said: "We've won the war, but the treaty hasn't been signed yet and there are still a few bullets flying around."

Liverpool last night issued a statement of support for their striker Stan Collymore and criticised the BBC radio presenter Dominik Diamond, who allegedly called Collymore a "selfish scumbag" during a phone-in on Radio 5 Live. Expressing concern at "the unjustified attack" on Collymore, they said they "regard the language used by the presenter as offensive, vulgar, misleading and grossly unfair."

Paul Stretford, Collymore's agent, said criticism of the player had become "ridiculous". He said: "If the remarks attributed to Dominik Diamond are accurate, then we will definitely be taking legal action."

The BBC had no comment to make last night about Liverpool's statement.