BRIGHT SIDE UP
Seagulls can get promoted today ..and a return to Prem doesn’t faze boss Hughton
CHRIS HUGHTON can secure Brighton’s promotion today – and insists he has nothing to prove in the Premier League.
Hughton will end Brighton’s 34-year topflight exile if they win at Wolves and Huddersfield lose at home to Preston, barring a freak goaldifference swing.
The Seagulls boss, brutally given the boot by Newcastle and Norwich after taking them up, said: “I have managed in the Premier League before. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and want to manage there again with this club. But as regards anything to prove, no.
“My feeling has always been about doing the best job I can in the job I’m in.”
Hughton could be excused a sly smile if he takes his Brighton side back to Norwich on Friday week having already clinched promotion.
The managerless Canaries – early-season favourites to make an immediate return to the Premier League – are having to plan for another season in the second tier.
“I am thoroughly enjoying my time at a club that have given me great support, a team that have given me great motivation,” added Hughton. “I would be delighted to get over the line with them.”
Even if they were to lose all their remaining matches, Huddersfield would need to win five and draw one of their last six to deny Brighton.
But Hughton added: “The only way we have to see it is to try to win as many games as we can in this last five games.
“We don’t know what the results will be. It would be nice if we could look forward and know our fate, but we don’t.
“So our aim has to put it in our own hands as opposed to having to rely on other results.”