Coppell has signed a one-year contract and will take charge of the Division One strugglers straight away.

Hinshelwood has been offered a new role as director of football and Bob Booker will remain as assistant manager.

Albion announced that the board's unanimous decision to remove Hinshelwood had been taken with regret.

But it insisted the move was in the best interests of the club.

Brighton are bottom of Division One after picking up just four points from their opening 12 games following promotion.

Albion chairman Dick Knight said: "Nobody set Martin any deadlines.

"But the poor run of results has had a destabilising effect on key players, which needs to rectify quickly if we are to stand a chance of survival in Division One.

"We have 34 league games left to play, which means we need something like 1.5 points per game to survive.

Experience

"Therefore the board felt we had to act before the situation becomes irretrievable.

"We are sorry that it has not worked out for Martin.

"Much has been made of the playing budget available to him.

"But the fact is that in this new era of financial reality in football, the increased playing budget we allocated this season to the playing side is not the smallest in Division One."

Former Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Brentford boss Coppell had been working on a match-to-match basis at Swindon as assistant manager to Andy King.

"Steve Coppell will bring a level of experience we feel is vital at this time," added Knight.

"I have made him fully aware that no increase in the playing budget will suddenly be made available.

"But he understands the club's position as I interviewed him for the job in the summer and he is now eager to get started.

"Steve and the board were also unanimous that I should ask Bob Booker to remain as assistant manager."