By Paul Holmes
October 15 2002

Brighton manager Steve Coppell has handed trails to Simon Rodger and Dean Blackwell. Brighton are currently sitting rock bottom of the 1st Division and Coppell is hoping that the experience duo can help his players, who don't have a lot of experience of 1st Division football.

Defender Blackwell spent most of his career with Wimbledon making 250 apperances, most in the Premier League.

Rodger was a regular member of the Crystal Palace midfield in the 90's making over 300 apperance in the top two divisions.

Coppell will now help that they can bring something extra to his new team.

"We're just having a look at them in training," said Coppell to the Brighton official site.

"It might be an opportunity to supplement the squad and give it a bit more beef and give it a bit more knowledge at this level.

"Both have played all their football in the Premiership or First Division," said Coppell who feels old heads will help the Seagulls haul themselves off the bottom of the Division One table.

"I think the general opinion is that a lot of the players have come up through the division and done superbly well.

"But there aren't many too many with First Division experience."