By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News, Manchester

He may have received a near three minute standing ovation, but not every Labour delegate was convinced by Gordon Brown's big speech.

I don't think he is playing by the rules Janet Seymour-Kirk

Some left the hall positively glowing at the prospect of a Brown premiership, full of praise at a speech which had been billed as the most important of Mr Brown's life.

"I thought it was an excellent speech. He pushed all the right buttons and said all of the right things", Maureen Cook, of Welwyn Hatfield Labour Party told the BBC News website.

"All of us in the Labour Party want to take on David Cameron and he has said that's what he wants to do.

"What stood out for me most is that he mentioned his mum and dad. He hasn't talked about that much in the past - it showed were he is coming from. He is a good man."

'Assured'

National Executive Committee member Christine Shawcroft also thought it had been a brilliant speech - even if she wanted to see other potential leadership contenders in action before making her mind up.

He is obviously trying to soften his image Christine Shawcroft

"I thought it was an excellent speech, very assured, very well presented. He had put a lot of thought into it.

"There was a lot of new thinking, new ideas. I think it went down well with delegates.

"He showed more of his human side. He has been portrayed by the media as a bit stern and gloomy and he is obviously trying to soften that image."

'Disappointed'

But other delegates felt Mr Brown was trying to gain an unfair advantage over his potential rivals for the top job.

And they were far from happy with the idea of him simply inheriting the Labour crown from Mr Blair, if no big hitter comes forward to challenge him.

Janet Seymour-Kirk, general secretary of the Labour Party Disabled Members Group, said: "I was pleased with some parts of the speech but disappointed that he did not deal with the Chancellorship part of his job.

"I know he had to lay down the ground rules for the leadership, but in another sense I feel he is pre-empting things.

"Before the conference it was strongly suggested that he would not talk about the leadership but here he is giving an election address. I don't think he is playing by the rules.

"I really would like to see and listen to some of the other contenders."

'Mixed reaction'

She called for a female candidate - such as Patricia Hewitt or Hazel Blears - to throw their hat into the ring.

"Gordon doesn't seem to have the same charisma and people power that Tony had," she added.

Kris Brown, a Labour councillor from the London borough of Edmonton, was also far from convinced by Mr Brown's leadership credentials.

"Based on this speech I would not support Gordon Brown in a leadership contest.

"The reaction in the hall was mixed. There were people around who were not getting up and clapping and others were clapping just for the sake of it."

He was pleased by Mr Brown's pledges on the environment and education, he said, but he wanted to see an end to the privatisation of public services.

The party needed a proper debate about its future policy direction, he argued, and a break with past.

"New Labour is not new enough or Labour enough," he added.

But she stopped short of backing Mr Brown in a leadership contest.

"I am not sure who the other candidates are."