Brighton CEO Paul Barber has revealed how Dan Ashworth helped select his successor with the Seagulls ahead of his move to Newcastle United. The technical director's appointment on Tyneside was confirmed in May last year following months of intense speculation.
Ashworth's exit was the first of several high-profile departures from Brighton, with Marc Cucurella and head coach Graham Potter both moving to Chelsea at the start of the new season. Wantaway star Leandro Trossard was then sold to Arsenal in the mid-season window, yet Roberto De Zerbi's side are on course for their best-ever Premier League finish.
Brighton promoted David Weir as Ashworth's successor having already identified the former centre-back as the ideal candidate to succeed the technical director. While accepting it was a 'setback' to lose the 52-year-old in the manner they did, Barber is confident the Seagulls were well-placed to handle his exit and has backed Weir to deliver in the role in his 'own way'.
