Chairman's Programme Notes: Brighton

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Welcome back to Turf Moor, as we entertain Brighton & Hove Albion in a big game for both clubs this afternoon.

2021-02-06T11:27:21.686Z

Chairman's Programme Notes: Brighton

Welcome back to Turf Moor, as we entertain Brighton & Hove Albion in a big game for both clubs this afternoon.

2021-02-06T11:27:21.686Z

Alan Pace's latest programme notes ahead of City visit

The Seagulls are flying high following an excellent victory at Liverpool in midweek and will be a tough test for Sean Dyche and the team today, as we look to bounce back from a defeat to the runaway Premier League leaders here on Wednesday night.

It has been three months since the goalless draw between these two sides at the AMEX, a game I watched as merely an interested TV viewer, with the takeover negotiations in process.

At that stage of the season, Burnley were in a very different position to the one we occupy now, with the club winless in the Premier League and having scored just one goal from open play in the opening seven Premier League matches.

The return of some key players has since helped turn around the club’s form, with the 20 points gained since that draw on the south coast outlining Sean Dyche’s continued belief in our squad of players to reach its goal this season.

Chairman's Programme Notes: Brighton - Image 1

While we were unable to add to that squad in the January transfer window, this was always going to be a very difficult one for all clubs to negotiate, with the COVID-19 pandemic having a major impact on how teams assess their squad depth and allow players to depart.

Even when loan deals are considered, there were only 24 transfers across the whole Premier League during the January transfer window, about half the level of business done in the previous three winters.

I am delighted that we have managed to secure extended contracts for several first team players in the last week.

Chairman's Programme Notes: Brighton - Image 2

Matt Lowton, Kevin Long and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have now signed deals until June 2023, while the club has also taken up an option to extend Erik Pieters' contract until the end of the 2021/22 season.

In addition, we continue to invest in youth, with France Under-19 international Anthony Gomez Mancini sealing a permanent deal following a successful loan spell with our U-23s.

With the squad now in place for the remainder of the season, the club’s focus is firmly on maintaining our positive start to the year. As ever, we appreciate the support of the club’s fans from afar and I know you will be cheering on the Clarets this afternoon from home.

Alan

@AlanPaceBFC