'We have a plan but Roberto will be difficult to replace' - Barber

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has been giving some insight into the club's future in an exclusive interview on the Albion Unlimited podcast.

Barber discussed everything from what led to Roberto de Zerbi's shock departure to how things have panned out this season and his plans for the club.

"We worked very hard over the last couple of years to make the relationship [with De Zerbi] as good as it could be. But all good things come to an end and it has been a really good two years.

"Obviously the first year was spectacular - it led us to our highest ever finish and European football. This year has been tougher, partly because of all of the extra games.

"But here we are, finishing 11th and feeling a little bit disappointed. For Brighton, if you look at our history and our record at the top level, 11th and feeling disappointed is a sign of progress in itself.

"The process that we follow has got us this far and that gives us confidence and belief. We are very clear with the way we work and with our coaching staff, including Roberto, and he has been very respectful of the process we follow.

"We have to understand that for a club of our size, with revenues of our size, we have to compete in a different way. We have found a different way of competing, particularly in terms of player recruitment, and that gives us a bit of an edge.

"It's not perfect - we are not perfect - so the system itself is still being refined season after season. However, it works very well for us. It is not just the last two seasons of relative success - it is what got us to the Premier League and has kept us here."

Barber wanted to reassure Seagulls supporters of the club's plans moving forward: "We always try and have a plan. We have got a plan. We now need to execute that plan, but we wanted to make sure that we were being totally respectful to Roberto.

"We don't wait for a coach to leave before we start the work. Part of our process is to make sure that we always know who the next coach might be.

"Obviously we can't guarantee it, because we don't know people's circumstances at the time the incumbent coach leaves, but we work really hard on our coach homework.

"The fans can be assured that this is work we have been doing for some time."

However, the chief executive admitted it will be "hard" to replace the Italian manager: "It will be hard. He is a top coach and someone that we knew a lot about before he came here.

"I think he more than met our expectations, particularly in the first season.

"He will be difficult to replace, for sure."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds