The forum was designed to bring supporters up to speed on the progression of the stadium project and the overwhelming majority of fans left the civic centre with renewed optimism as to the Albion's long term future.

Martin Perry and Dick Knight told supporters about the multi-million project and how the club hope to be at their 22,500 all-seater stadium at the start of the 2010-11 season.

I make no apologies, but age and the various slings and arrows of the Albion saga over nearly 13 years have made me a tad cynical.

Now it's put up or shut up time.

There is nowhere for Messrs Knight and Perry to go now, they have deliver the stadium or end up looking like a "Dumb and Dumber" tribute act.

That's why I'm far more optimistic now than I have ever been because I cannot see where the project can falter now — but when I say that, I mean the initial project.

The real test will come after the stadium has been built. Coventry City and Leicester City have both built new state-of-the-art stadiums, but both have since gone on to experience horrendous financial problems which have put their whole futures in jeopardy.

That is where the Albion must learn from other people's mistakes. A new stadium is not the answer to everything.

It can provide the foundation to go on and develop into, perhaps, a Premiership club, but it can also be the catalyst for serious trouble.

Perhaps building the stadium will almost turn out to be the easy part . . .

Another team looking to move up to bigger and better things is Worthing Thunder, as talk of switching to the top flight BBL is still ongoing.

Much has been debated about the cost implications and the potential sponsors and TV coverage but, to my mind, ultilmately the bottom line is the supporters.

If the attendances reach levels which can sustain top-flight participation and attract the adequate corporate sponsorship, then I believe that the move can, and will, be a success.

But at the back of my mind I do worry, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, why does professional basketball remain a minority sport in this country?

And are the extremely successful Thunder side a mirror image of the old Wimbledon football club — who were for many years a Premiership side on the pitch but, off the field, didn't have the core support and infrastructure, at least in South London?

The Dons were the only team in FA Cup history to return nearly 6,000 of their 25,000 ticket allocation for the 1988 Final against Liverpool.

In whatever sphere of life, I would never wish to stifle anybody's wish to progress, but I would hate for Thunder to self-destruct and ruin all the great things they have done by being over ambitious.

History proves this can be the case, when looking at Brighton Bears' chequered past.

This column thrives on debate so, therefore, be it Alan Sweetman-Hicks or Dave Stanbridge, or anyone else at Thunder, please respond and set out for us all how this very exciting project can be successful.

Good luck to Lancing team, PW Colts Under-13s, who play in their first County Cup semi-final this Sunday against Fishersgate Flyers at Orient Road, Lancing, with a 2pm kick off.

And Monday night has the inaugural Roy Pook Memorial Under-13 Floodlit Trophy Final at Woodside Road between Worthing Minors and Worthing United, kick off at 7pm. Roy's widow, Ivy, will present the trophy.