IT'S DEAN WILKINS WEEK: 12th to 18th June

Club career
Born in Hillingdon, Wilkins represented QPR, Leyton Orient and Brighton & Hove Albion as a player, before moving into coaching. He is the son of footballer George Wilkins and the youngest brother of the former England international Ray Wilkins and Chelsea defender Graham Wilkins. Summers 1981 and 1982 Wilkins played in Finland.

Wilkins initially struggled to break into the Brighton team the year after they were relegated from the old first division, and so left to make his mark on the continent. He returned to play with some distinction for Brighton, having an excellent passing ability and delivery from free kicks.

In the 1990–01 season Wilkins scored in the final minute of the final match of the season to earn Brighton a place in the play-offs in division two, despite having negative goal difference for the season.

After Brighton won a two legged semi-final 6-2 against Millwall, Brighton lost 3-1 to Notts County in a pink wavy kit that resembled a pack of raspberry Chewits sweets. Wilkins scored Brighton's goal in the final minute, and so became the last Brighton player to hit the onion bag at the old Wembley stadium.


Managerial career
Wilkins assumed the position of caretaker manager when Mark McGhee was sacked in early September 2006. Later that month, it was announced that Wilkins had been given the job on a permanent basis. On 3 April, Wilkins was offered a three year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion, which was agreed on 24 April.

Under his management, Brighton secured the coveted eighteenth position in League One at the end of the 2006–07 season. In early May 2008, it was announced he was to be replaced as manager at Brighton And Hove Albion by former manager Micky Adams, despite taking the Seagulls to a credible seventh place finish just outside of the playoffs in his first full season. As a consequence Wilkins was offered his former role as first team coach at the club. However, he rejected the offer and parted company with the club he had been associated with in various capacities for twenty years.

On 31 July 2009 Wilkins was named as Alan Pardew's assistant manager at Southampton. On 30 August 2010, Wilkins was appointed caretaker manager at Southampton after manager Alan Pardew was sacked, until 12 September when Nigel Adkins was appointed. Wilkins is now Southampton's First Team Coach.

Glad NA kept him on when he came in as often its all change with the backroom staff and he looks like popular coach. Didnt have a great time as temporary manager but not everyone can be top dog.