By Tim Dudding

Albion received a massive boost today with the news that Andrew Whing has accepted the offer of a new two year contract.

The club's player of the season will put pen to paper on the new deal before reporting for pre-season training next Tuesday.

The 24-year-old right-back has been the subject of transfer speculation during the close season, but Whing insists he has made the right decision to pledge his future to the Seagulls.

He explained, "It's been a long summer and has dragged on a bit, but I'm happy that everything has been agreed now and I'm looking forward to the season starting.

"I went home (to the Midlands) for a bit and it got me thinking about maybe moving closer to home, and also I started thinking about my own ambitions.

"But there has been a lot of change at Brighton this summer. We've got a new chairman, and with the new stadium on the way as well the club is going in the right direction.

"The manager came in and did a brilliant job at the end of last season and turned things around. We can only move forward now and I'm looking forward to working with him again."

Slade has been busy in the transfer market, with Mark Wright, Gary Dicker and James Tunnicliffe all signing in the last week.

And Whing says he is excited by the prospect of a new-look side to challenge for promotion.

"There's been a lot of turnaround so it will be strange to see a smaller squad when we report back on Tuesday.

"But we've made some good new signings, and I can't wait to get going now."