Albion Continue Poyet Inquiry

By Henry Smith

The saga of Gus Poyet’s suspension continues as Albion Chief Executive Paul Barber has announced ‘inquiries will take as long as necessary.’

Poyet was suspended last month along with first team coach Charlie Oatway and managerial assistant Mauricio Taricco.

The Uruguayan has been manager of Brighton since 2009 and won promotion from League One in 2011.

The problems began after Brighton’s 2-0 loss to arch rivals Crystal Palace in the Championship semi-final of the playoffs.

Brighton officially apologised to The Eagles after excrement was found in the visitor’s dressing room, although no evidence suggests an Amex staff member was responsible.

Barber expressed sympathy to the fans saying, “I appreciate that the issues we have had to face in recent weeks have created some uncertainty and concern for some of our supporters.”

He added, “Unfortunately, this is something we must all live with for the time being.”

Poyet is under contract at Brighton until 2016 but has recently made no secret of his ambitions to manage at Premier League level, despite turning down an offer to manage Reading.

He said shortly after the Palace defeat, “I will analyse where we can go and myself as well. I have got to think about myself as well sometimes.”

There has also been a recent outcry in Spain, with fans of Real Zaragoza, where Poyet made his name as a player, calling for the club executives to make a move for the Albion boss.

Zaragoza’s current boss, Manolo Jimenez, is expected to leave at the end of the season after the club were relegated from Spain’s top division, La Liga.

Poyet’s future will be on mind of every Albion fan, who still seem to be backing the Uruguayan, who guided Brighton to a fourth place finish in the Championship this season, their highest since 1983.

Albion’s new training ground: good or bad?

Albion’s Amex stadium

By Mollie Bennett

Work is well under-way on Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club’s new state of the art training ground, but just how will it benefit the community.

The new £29million facilities will be based at New Monks Farm in Mash Barn Lane, Lancing.

It boasts 11 full size outdoor football pitches, with five for use by the first team and the other six for academy, youth team and community use.

It will also have a distinctive Y-shaped two-storey building, which will contain an indoor pitch, changing rooms, a swimming pool, medicine facilities, a gym, physio rooms and offices for the club’s analysts.

Albion have also recently submitted an application for three more pitches at the venue, insisting that it would not increase the number of people using the training ground.

They claim it would allow extra rotation at the facilities, to decrease wear on the pitches, increase the availability for community use and allow more time for schools and local clubs during the week.

Despite this, residents have objected to increase the application insisting it will impact on the local flood plain.

The club, however, say that as the pitches are being built four and a half metres above the existing ground water table, they will collect the rain waiter and use it for irrigation of the pitches.

The site, which is being built on land that was unused, is set to boast the local economy but some residents are not pleased with the project.

The Mash Barn Community Group fears it will create late night noise and light issues as well increase the traffic around the area.

They argue the land could have had greater public use if Adur District Council had instead opted to develop the site into seven public football pitches.

On the other hand, Albion insist the site will deliver a vital economic boost with the estimated 300 jobs it is set to create, along with the three million pound worth of building contracts that could be injected into the community.

Barry McLaughlin, of Albion in the Community believes it will have a positive influence, stating that it would serve to strengthen some of Brighton’s community engagement, including its Want to Work scheme, which has seen more than 300 people gain employment over the past year,

The bid was eventually accepted in September 2012 when eight councilors took just an hour and a half to decide unanimously to back the project.
Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said: “This is the largest investment in Lancing’s history and very important for the people of Lancing and Adur.”

A decision was originally expected in May 2012 but Albion were forced back to the drawing board when a number of concerns were raised over noise pollution, extra traffic and access to the site.

Councilors agreed to grant planning permission, subject to amendments, which included shorter lighting columns in the car park and alterations to the access roads.

Despite the amendments neighbours are still concerned about the noise pollution as well as traffic and access to the site, which would be along a two-way road that passes through a neighbouring estate,

The site would also include a 303-space car park with room for a coach and about 30 bicycles.

Brighton and Hove Albion director Martin Perry, reacted to the criticism insisting the club is eager to develop a good relationship with its neightbours at the Lancing site.

He said: “The facility will have a community-use agreement and subject to availability it will be open to the public.”

Perry also believes the site will create a new community legacy as the club has confirmed the scheme is making an investment of £1.3m towards additional sporting facilities within Adur to support emerging talent.

The Sussex County FA, based in Culver Road, Lancing, say they are delighted to see the development go ahead, insisting it will enhance the community in various ways, including bringing in business for the local businesses and creating employment possibilities in the local area.

They went on to explain how it will enable the local community to utilize better facilities by way of the financial contribution from the club to Adur District Council to enhance the existing faculties within the district.

“The Sussex County FA is delighted to see the development go ahead and will work with both the club and the local authorities to ensure that the community is a winner here,” they said.

Carrie Reynolds, who is community development manager at Inspire Leisure, the local gym facilities partnered with the Arun District Council, is also in favor of the new training ground.

She said: “Having BHAFC in our local area has had such a positive impact on community sport, and the work that the AITC team do day-to-day which improves the lives of so many.

“To have the football club invest in this fantastic facility will only improve community sport opportunities even further.”

Albion have been criticised for the location of their training facilities as they are outside Brighton, however they believe the 40-acre location will attract fans from across the whole area.

The club has selected the same company that constructed the Amex and the highway maintenance to and from the stadium, to build the site which is set to be fully functional for the start of Albion’s 2014 pre-season.

Buckingham Group Contracting will be constructing the site as part of a £22 million contract, while Adenstar Developments will be constructing the access road linking with the existing Mash Barn Lane.

The Adur-based company previously built the access roads through the University of Sussex, and will be performing under a £600,000 engineering contract.

Hat-trick hero Ulloa sinks Huddersfield in 4-1 victory

Poyet confident ahead of Huddersfield clash

Poyet targets Chelsea job

by Tom Mackintosh

Brighton manager Gus Poyet reaffirmed his desire to manage at the highest level after being linked with a return to former club Chelsea yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s clash with Huddersfield, Poyet responded to claims that he was one of the front runners to replace Benitez at Stamford Bridge.

Brighton currently lie sixth in the Championship and go into Saturday’s game on the back of three straight league victories and have conceded just once in the last four games.

When informed that he was 7/1 on to succeed Benitez, Poyet said “That’s my aim. I want to go to the highest level whether it’s Chelsea or someone else.”

The Chelsea manager claimed he was ready to leave the European Champions on Wednesday night and this has fuelled speculation surrounding who will replace him in the summer.

Benitez reacted angrily when the Chelsea supporters targeted him with a series of chants and display of banners at his side’s 2-0 victory away at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round.

“Chelsea gave me the title of interim manager which is a mistake.” Benitez told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I am the manager. The fans are not helping us. At the end of the season I will leave. They don’t have to worry about me”.

Gus Poyet made 105 appearances for The Blues in a four year stint, winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, earning him legendary status at the Bridge.

However despite the rumours, the Uruguayan insisted he didn’t watch Chelsea in midweek and was focussed solely on preparations for Saturday as Brighton look to cement a play-off spot.

“I can assure you I didn’t watch Chelsea against Middlesbrough. I was paying attention to preparing for our game against Huddersfield on Saturday by watching them in a competitive game at Burnley. That’s my job.”

Lopez strike lifts Brighton up to sixth

By Tom Mackintosh

Brighton 1 Burnley 0 - report of Saturday’s match

David Lopez’s first-half volley was enough to sink Burnley on Saturday, and move Brighton into the play-off places, as the season moves into the business end. The Spaniard latched onto the end of a Wayne Bridge cross to score his fifth goal of the season in front of a bumper crowd at the Amex Stadium.

Burnley, whose promotion push has started to recede, have failed to win any of their last four league games. Brighton, on the other hand, have won three of their last four. And despite a number of commanding outfield performances, it was Tomasz Kuszczak who stole the show with a string of sensational saves.

Albion boss Gus Poyet on goalscorer David Lopez: “He is a different player and I always try to play him. Because of his technical ability he scores some very important goals and he showed that again.”

Burnley manager on his side’s efforts: “We deserved something, absolutely. You win games with displays like that and to come here and perform like that was very pleasing.”

Brighton, who started slowly, had to withstand early pressure from the visitors but took the lead on the twenty minute mark. Vicente capped a masterful display in the heart of the Seagulls midfield by spraying a ball out wide for Bridge. The former England defender’s cross was flicked on by Ulloa and Lopez arrived at the back post to fire past a helpless Grant to give Brighton a 1-0 lead.

This didn’t prevent Burnley’s dominance and they were unfortunate not to equalise on the half hour mark. Keith Treacy’s corner was met by Burnley skipper Jason Shackell but his effort was cleared off the line by Wayne Bridge.

A few minutes later, Shackell got on the end of another Treacy corner, but his bullet header was excellently saved by Kuszczak. Brighton manager Gus Poyet hailed his keeper’s performance after the game and at times he kept his side in the contest.

Burnley started the second half the same way they started the first by maintaining possession of the ball effortlessly It was Brighton who wasted the best opportunity of the half as Leonardo Ulloa failed to convert from close range midway through the second half.  Burnley could have snatched an equaliser right at the death but top scorer Charlie Austin squandered a great chance after getting on the end of Danny Ings’s cross.

Brighton, rather fortunately perhaps, clung on to all three points.

Success for Brighton and Hove Football Club

By Josh Harrison

The recent success of Brighton and Hove Football Club has been a joy to see for fans of the club and football fans throughout England.

A new award winning stadium, promotion to the championship, and an exciting style of football have given fans much optimism about the future, with many believing that the premiership is not far away, and you can hardly blame them.

Not many would have predicted Brighton would be in such a good position when Gus Poyet took over as manager. The team continued to struggle in the bottom four of league one, but the Uruguayan has inspired a remarkable change in fortune.

Lifelong fan and season ticket holder Stephan Warr thinks Poyet’s appointment has been a key factor to the Albion’s climb up the football league: “Gus took over as manager when we were in the bottom 4 of league one has propelled us to a top 10 Championship side in under 4 years. Therefore he must be doing something right. I think the main thing is that he has a good knowledge of the game and his enthusiasm and desire is second to none. He has the character that has managed to persuade top players to come and play for Brighton, players like Craig Mackail-Smith”.

Another thing that has inspired the team to do well is the number of top quality players Poyet has bought to strengthen the team; players such as Mackail Smith, Vicente, Bruno and Wayne Bridge, all players with international experience, and all players fans wouldn’t have dreamed of signing four years ago.

Brighton and Hove Albion tour guide Sam Evans still can’t believe how far the team has come under Poyet: “Gus (Poyet) has totally transformed the team and from watching them at the Withdean during the league one years, bottom of the table, the transformation under his regime has been incredible. Signing players like Vicente and Bruno, Spanish international player, has shown how far we have come, and really do think it won’t be long until we achieve promotion to the premiership.”

The championship is without doubt a very tough league and the task of achieving promotion may prove to be too difficult for the team. However with a young exciting manager, talented new players, and one of the best stadiums in England, surely it won’t be long before Brighton’s brilliant revolution continues and they achieve promotion to the Premiership.

Seagulls Flying!

If you asked Seagulls fans how their season would pan out after 3 games most would have have given a less than favourable reply. With a loss and a draw in the league as well as getting knocked out of the Capital One cup by League 1′s Swindon, its fair to say their season started with a stutter.

However, since then Gus Poyet’s boys have been on a fantastic run with 5 wins in a row. During this impressive stretch, which included 3 tough away days, they’ve also managed 14 goals whilst only conceeding 3.

A big part of this is record signing Craig Mackail-Smith rediscovering his goalscoring touch. The hard working forward struggled at times last season but with 6 goals in 7 games, hes given a big boost to his sides promotion hopes.

This has been coupled with 2 big name name experienced signings in the back 5.

Tomasz Kuszczak and Bruno have been consitent performers in defence, with both bringing champions league experience from Manchester United and valencia respectively.

So with Seagulls fans rejoicing at how far they’ve come under Poyet’s stewardship, they look forward to another promotion push in what promises to be an exciting season.

Breaking news: Brighton & Hove Albion players charged with sexual assault and voyeurism

By Liam Dawes

Three Brighton & Hove Albion players and a Bournemouth player have been charged with sexual assault and voyeurism.

This week’s Albion Press Conference

By Paul Healey

 Today’s Amex Stadium conference included the views of Assistant Manager Mauricio Tarrico and players Liam Bridcutt and Sam Vokes.

There is a common view that every game is going to be like a cup final ahead of play-off rival Middlesbrough’s visit on Saturday.

Mauricio said: “At the start of the season we wanted a good championship team. We had not considered…the play-offs…which are nice to be in.”

The team do not feel they are under particular pressure and will be urged to carry on playing their normal game.

When asked how the next opponents are expected to play he said “We will know at 3:05!”.

He has seen many teams change the way they play when they come to the Amex.

Cool heads need to prevail unlike the debacle at local ground Crawley Town this week which ended in a post-match scrap and five red cards.

Mauricio jokingly left the conference with: “Are you going to ask me about new signings?!” when Gus Poyet had already stressed in the week the main focus is now on finishing in the play-offs.

Liam Bridcutt confirmed it works for him to think about the next game to come and not to get carried away with the league position.

Sam Vokes was asked if like Norwich his team had what it takes to be in the premiership and was firm on the point that it really could happen.

He said: “We will carry on with the lone striker and two wingers style of play or switch it depending on which works”.

Gary Dicker is confirmed as in the squad and may feature in the next game.

Nottingham Forest v Brighton Preview

By Paul Healey

Brighton travel up to Nottingham knowing that their fate is in their hands, as they have a real chance of making the play-offs with only eight games left.

Brighton only beat Forest 1-0 at the home fixture but a preceding 7-3 away win for Forest against Leeds could make for a spectacle here, Gary Mcleary hitting four.

Gary Dicker and Marcos Painter might make the bench although Brighton’s defence held up reasonably well mid-week. Assulin, the ex- Manchester City creative midfielder, has had his contract extended until the end of the season and is available with Adam El-Abd.  Defender Reyes has the first match ban for his red card; Tommy Elphick remains out with an Achilles problem.

Steve Cotterill’s men are not yet safe, and there will be late fitness tests for Danny Higginbotham and George Elokobi.

Brighton up to 4th!

By Paul Healey

Brighton beat sorry Derby on Tuesday 2-0 and remain fourth even after this weeks wednesday results.

The start given to defender Indigo Calderon paid almost immediate dividend as he scored after only 9 minutes and a further goal come from a Vicente cross in the 65th which Ashley Barnes only had to tap in.

Brighton dominated the first half and a good deal of the second but Jake Buxton headed over twice for the visitors after the break and Paul Green nodded wide from a Theo Robinson cross.

Kazenga LuaLua was a constant threat and well worth his start having been involved in the second goal and playing  80 minutes.

Brighton have put the 3-1 away loss at Blackpool behind them and there will be exciting times ahead with only eight games remaining.

Brighton v Derby Preview

By Paul Healey

Brighton will be without Gonzalo Jara Reyes for the Tues evening home game against Derby as the right-back starts a three-match ban following his red card at Blackpool, which was lost 3-1.

The match could see the return of Lewis Dunk or Marcos Painter to the back four, neither made the bench in the last game.

The Rams have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium and have just enjoyed victories against Nottingham Forest and Doncaster.

Forward Jamie Ward remains around ten days away from a return after missing five matches with a thigh injury, but long term absenties remain unavailable

Vicente’s A star!

By Paul Healey

Gus Poyet was full of praise for Vicente following his brace after coming off the bench at Brighton & Hove Albion’s home game against Portsmouth last Saturday.

Winning man of the match, ex-Valencia man Vicente, 30, is still only on a contract loan until the end of the season.

Injury and fitness problems have resulted in only two starts and nine appearances this season.

Poyet said, on his chances of playing for the Albion next season: ”It’s 50-50, because it depends how fit he is between now and the end of the season. If he plays the next ten games and we are in the play-offs, who knows? Then, oh my God!”

Albion, still unbeaten in the league in 2012, are now fifth in the table the first time they have been in the play-off zone since early December and their highest position since mid-October.

Meanwhile Norwegian development squad striker Agdestein has been awarded a new two-and-a-half year contract.

Brighton 2 Portsmouth 0

By David Windsor

Two goals from Rodriguez Vicente gave Brighton a valuable three points to maintain their unbeaten run in 2012 with a 2-0 victory against Portsmouth at the Amex on Saturday.

Vicente came off the bench to fire a free-kick past Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown on 74 minutes, before slotting home in stoppage time after a neat cut-back from Kazenga LuaLua.

Brighton and Hove Albion, who were 11 games unbeaten going to the game, dominated the large periods of the second half but luck appeared to be with visitors; after Brighton defender Joe Mattock crashed a volley against the post.

Portsmouth, who were docked 10 points earlier this season for going into administration, had their moments in the opening 45 minutes, the best coming after a Scott Allen’s strike produced a fine save from Brighton goalkeeper Brezovan.

Pompey are rooted to the bottom of the Championship and there were no favours granted by their South coast neighbours as the substitute Vicente ultimately stole the show with a brace in the last 15 minutes. The injury-plagued, former Valencia winger who signed for the Seagulls in the hope of regular football has managed only 9 starts all season after injury set-backs.

Gus Poyet was full of praise for Vicente, labelling the Spaniard “the best player at the club” and it was hard to argue with his assessment after a display of such outstanding technical quality.

Vicente’s shirtless delight in front of the Amex crowd gained him a yellow card and if Brighton are to consolidate their position in the play-off places, the diminutive winger from Valencia will be crucial to their chances.

Gus Poyet interested in Spurs

By Paul Healey

It could be cries of ‘Gus Poyet, my lord’ should he go the spurs, as is the title of the ex-chairman Alan Sugar, as Gus’ incredible success with Brighton this season resulted in his winning the award for Outstanding Managerial Achievement, at the Football League Awards 2012.

Gus has said he would love to take over as manager. However he has recently signed a long-term contract with Brighton and Tony Bloom, Brighton chairman, said recently on BBC Sussex that the club would do everything they can to keep him, but naturally expect interest from Premiership clubs.

Brighton remain unbeaten this year, the only club outside of the premiership in this position.