Don't think there was a clause on Crofts, probably went there because he played there before and they are in a lot better position than they were.
Have you got any reason to believe that?
I can assure you that most contracts have them.
They are not a bad thing for any club- that's why they're included.
The speed and ease of the transfer (given that I would have thought Croft's signature would be hotly contested by Championship clubs) indicates that Brighton had an exclusive opportunity.
Naturally, the fact that Croft's probably liked the club would have helped them come to an agreement, but it doesn't stop there being a clause in the first place.
I think the problem is that people assume these clauses are very powerful. They are not. All they say is that if Norwich want to sell, they must go to the previous club first (Brighton). Norwich name a price and if Brighton are willing to pay that and the player is happy, he signs. If Brighton aren't willing, Norwich can then offer elsewhere. so Norwich get the price they want, and Brighton get the player they want without any other parties cocking it up.
These clauses really are no big deal

****'s sake. Ask anyone on the Leeds board when I've ever been on the wind up, answer: never, I'm not going to start now on a board I actually quite like.