Brighton announce losses of £2.2m

Brighton have been hindered by playing at the Withdean

Brighton have revealed operating losses of £2.2m for the financial year ending June 2006 as their bid to secure a new stadium at Falmer drags on.

The figure, from their second season in the Championship which ended in relegation, has risen from £976,000 the previous year.

The rise illustrates the financial burden of continuing to play at their temporary Withdean home.

The club's net loss was just £253,000, thanks to the sale of star players.

Over £2m was raised from the transfer of Adam Virgo to Celtic and Dan Harding to Leeds.

Brighton will have been without a home for 10 years at the end of this season after their Goldstone Ground was sold from under them by previous chairman Bill Archer.

Their proposed 22,000-seater stadium in the Falmer area of the city is the subject of a second public inquiry following continued opposition from Lewes District Council.

Meanwhile, skipper Dean Hammond's season could be over after he suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury which will now hasten his much-needed hernia operation.