Brighton EXCLUSIVE: Club chief explains why Chris Hughton was sacked and replaced by Swansea boss Graham Potter

Brighton EXCLUSIVE: Club chief explains why Chris Hughton was sacked and replaced by Swansea boss Graham Potter
Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber has been forced to explain why the club sacked popular boss Chris Hughton and replaced him with the comparably inexperienced Graham Potter.The Seagulls axed Hughton last week, despite keeping the club in the Premier League for another season.And they confirmed Potter as his replacement on Monday, with the 44-year-old leaving Swansea who finished tenth in the Championship this term to take over at the Amex.

The club are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Potter as the new head coach of the football club. Breaking news brought to you by @eToro #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/rfRdm94Czn— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 20, 2019

But Ian Holloway, alongside Jim White in the talkSPORT studio on Tuesday, admitted he was left baffled by the decision and demanded Barber explain why Hughton had been given the boot.And the Seagulls CEO launched a passionate defence of the clubs move to appoint Englishman Potter who enjoyed success in Sweden with Ostersund, where he won three promotions and led the minnows to glory in the Swedish Cup, as well a run to the Europa League knock-out stages.Speaking on Tuesday, former QPR boss Holloway said: I really dont understand and Id love to ask you this: Is it what Graham did abroad? Because his record at Swansea was not glittering – 21 wins, 19 defeats.Chris took over when you were in the relegation places, and not only did he get you up to the Premier League, he kept you up. So Im asking, why couldnt Chris move you forward?“I just think you just needed a couple of different centre-forwards to help you.I dont understand, can you please fill me in? I know youve all done a brilliant job, but it doesnt make sense to me.GETTY3

Chris Hughton was sacked by Brighton just days after keeping the club in the Premier League – and Ian Holloway is not happy

And Brighton CEO Barber replied: Yes Ian, there were a couple of things that concerned us last season. We felt the performance levels the players were capable of were not there and we were struggling to reach the kind of performance levels we needed to not just survive in the Premier League, but to prosper.We felt that maybe a change of manager at his time would get more out of the squad weve got. We invested a lot of money last summer.When we looked at Graham and what hed done… I think you need to put what he did at Swansea into context, Ian. He lost 16 members of his first team squad when they were relegated and the majority were what we would call Premier League players.Despite the squad being ripped apart, he not only managed to keep the club in the Championship, but he actually got them to tenth place within shooting distance of the play-offs.We felt that was a fabulous achievement. If you go back to what he did in Sweden, he took a club in the fourth tier in Swedish football all the way to the top tier, he then won the Swedish club and he got them into the Europa League and came up against some very, very tough sides.And all of this on the back of not just a good playing career he calls it unglittering but we think 300 odd games at first team level is a pretty solid playing career.And then he did it the hard way. He got his education, he took a degree in social science and then took a masters degree in human intelligence, emotional intelligence effectively psychology and leadership.He then worked his way through the coaching ranks at universities, then into womens football and then onto Ostersund where he did an incredible job.Getty3

Potter guided Ostersund to an impressive last 32 finish in the 2017/18 Europa League – where they were knocked out by Arsenal

Hes a young English coach, hes educated, hes articulate, hes humble, hes got a great work ethic, hes got a good group of people around him and we feel hes very, very good choice for us to take our club to the next stage.We want to improve year-on-year and we didnt feel we improved last year or progressed in the way we hoped to. We simply want move forward now with a difference voice.Holloway added: I hope Graham does well, Paul, but Im saying youve got rid of a proven manager very harshly in my opinion. Thats what Im saying.And Barber insisted the club did not take the decision to sack Hughton lightly.We understand Chris was hugely popular,” he continued, “not just here at this club but across football. Thats not going to change. Hell always be welcome back here.“Chris did a fabulous job for us. In four-and-a-half years he stabilised us in the Championship, got us to within a hairs breadth of promotion in his first full season, and then promotion and two seasons in the Premier League.Getty3

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has defended the club’s decision to sack Chris Hughton

So we owe a lot to Chris and hell probably go down as one of Brightons greatest ever managers. He will always be remembered here with a huge amount of respect and fondness.Were already missing Chris and the impact he had here, but we feel Graham is the man to take us forward.Were not nave enough to think any kind of change he might want to make is going to happen overnight, he needs time, we need to be patient and were aware of that.Hes got a combination of interesting experience and great football qualities, but also hes the kind of person I think would fit with our club.Chris fit in very well because of his personality, his dignity and humility, and Graham is of the same ilk, but obviously different in other ways.Were really looking forward to working with him. We think weve got a very fine young English coach, who is excited about moving to this level of football and testing his own methods and ideas.

Listen back to talkSPORT’s interview with Brighton CEO Paul Barber IN FULL above!

---

Jordan Pickford will be asked by Everton chiefs to explain his alleged part in a pub brawl in Sunderland over the weekend. The England goalkeeper, who caused controversy at St James' Park last
Jordan Pickford: Everton investigating after goalkeeper
sports.weblife24.com/jordan-pickford-everton-investigating-after-goalkeeper-filmed-at-centre-of-pub-brawl-in-sunderland/
Jordan Pickford was at the centre of a pub brawl at the weekend, it has emerged. Footage obtained by The Sun appears to show the Everton and England goalkeeper involved in a fight outside a pub in Sunderland on Sunday.
Jordan Pickford: Everton investigate after video allegedly

---

West Ham have identified Chelsea outcast Danny Drinkwater as their top target as the club plot to sign a midfielder before the January transfer window shuts. The Hammers have until 11pm on
West Ham news:should the Hammers make a move for Danny

---

Manchester City vs Liverpool team news: James Milner injury boost, but Kevin De Bruyne could miss Premier League clash upon James Milner for tonight's Premier League showdown with Manchester
~ Manchester City vs Liverpool team news: Reds get James

---

Everton vs Bournemouth: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and teams for Premier League tie Marco Silva's faltering side are looking to avoid a third-successive Premier League defeat when they
Tottenham vs Man United: TV channel, unusual kick-off time

---

LONDON (AP) — Hugo Lloris saved a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw for Tottenham against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday after Harry Kane had equalized with a spot kick of his own. Arsenal had a chance to win it in the final minutes when substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was adjudged to have been fouled in the area, but the
Spurs v Arsenal Match Report | THFC Tickets & Travel

---

Born in Madrid, Nacho arrived in Real Madrid's youth system at the age of 11. He made his senior debut in 2008-09, playing two games with the reserves in Segunda División B and subsequently appearing in a further two full seasons in that level; it was during this time he formed a long-lasting friendship with future Russian national team player Denis Cheryshev.
Zinedine Zidane - Wikipedia

---

RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Bundesliga encounter Bayern Munich travel to the Red Bull Arena on Sunday looking for another win to edge them
RB Leipzig 0-3 Bayern Munich, DFB Pokal Final: Initial

---

Alisson (Liverpool) - €107.5m/£95.52m Liverpool's Alisson is BETTER than Brazil rival Ederson, former Manchester United midfielder Kleberson claims.
EXCLUSIVE: The 8 competitors for Progress Wrestling's 2019

---

The top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League, while the FA Cup winners, the Carabao Cup winners and the fifth-placed side in the top flight go into the Europa League
European qualification for UEFA competitions explained

---

Michael Barrymore is an 'outstanding actor who deserves an Oscar' in TV interview with Piers Morgan says father of man who died in his swimming pool at Arsenal soccer star Mesut Ozil's

---

Hodgson got Liverpool's Kacaniklic mixed up with ex-Ross County ace Cooper as he 'accidentally sold wrong player' to Fulham ROY HODGSON has been accused of selling the wrong player by
Roy Hodgson 'sold the wrong player by mistake' at Liverpool

---

Former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis almost scared a ball boy to death with his "Panther Walk" celebration on Thursday afternoon in a Saudi Arabia top-flight league match. Gomis, 33, who now plays for Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, scored in their 2-0 win over Al-Ittihad and as always, he got on his knees for his trademark
Bafétimbi Gomis Celebration Sends Ballboy Fleeing In Terror

---