Now Humphrey has gone back to school John Humphrey is so mild-mannered and calm it is easy to understand how he helped steady the Albion ship when it was in danger of being wrecked on the rocks. But the defender has revealed how miffed he was that his reward for helping the Seagulls achieve league safety five years ago was to be shown the door because of budget cuts imposed by then chief executive David Bellotti. Humphrey was 36 when he was recruited from Gillingham by manager Steve Gritt with Albion bottom of Division Three. He proved to be a lucky mascot as they only lost three of his 11 games to complete the escape act.