Shock sacking of Hughton means Potter is front runner for Brighton job
● Premier League survival and FA Cup semi-final not enough for Seagulls chief
Swansea boss Graham Potter has been installed as the bookies’ favourite for the Brighton manager’s job after the shock sac king of Chris Hugh ton yesterday.
Hugh ton kept the Seagulls in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup semifinals but a poor recent run of form signalled the end of his four-and-a-half-year tenure.
Albion scraped Premier League survival by two points following only two wins from 18 top-flight matches since the turn of the year, ending with Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at home to champions Manchester City.
Chairman Tony Bloom told the club website: “Undoubtedly, this has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make as chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion, but ultimately one I have made due to how we struggled in the second half of the season. Our run of three wins from 23 Premier League matches put our status at significant risk.
“It is with that in mind, and the performances during that period, that I now feel it’s the right time for a change.”
Hugh ton’ s assistant Paul Trollope and first-team coach Paul Nevin have also left.
Among the other early contenders are England women head coach Phil Neville and former Hibs and Dundee United player Michael O’neill, pictured.
Northern Ireland boss O’neill was the subject of a high-profile bid by the SFA to persuade him to take the Scotland job before Alex Mcleish was appointed.
Former Rangers midfielder Mike lA rte ta, currently assistant boss to fellow Spaniard Pep Guardiola at Manches - ter City, is also on the bookies’ list of possible targets, along with Scot Alex Neil, the former Hamilton Acci es manager who is now in charge at Preston North End.
Hugh ton replaced S ami Hyypia at the Amex Stadium in December 2014, with Brighton just above the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.
After defeat in the play- off semi-finals in 2016, Hughton led Albion back to the top flight for the first time since 1983 the following season with a second-placed finish. The 60 -year- old signed a contract extension until
2021 last May having secured Premier League survival and the club spent more than £60 million on new players last summer. Despite a decent first half of the season and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, league form tailed off and left Albion in serious danger of the drop before safety was secured on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Bloom added :“Chris has done an excellent job over the past four and a half years. First stabil isin go ur club, reaching the play-off sin his first full season, securing our first-ever promotion to the Premier League, and retaining our status in two successive seasons.”
The club confirmed that the search for a successor to the former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich boss is already under way.
“Chris will always be very fondly remembered by Albion staff and fans as one of our club’s finest and most-respected managers,” added Bloom.
“I would like to wish Chris, Paul and Paul–who have all worked extremely hard throughout their time here – ever y success for the future, and thank them on behalf of everyone at the club.
“They will always be w elcome at the Amex.”