Sussex

Image source, _antonpalmer and @bailey_palmer7 on Instagram

Brighton have snapped up 16-year-old twins Anton Palmer and Bailey Palmer from Middlesbrough's academy, after fending off multiple other Premier League clubs to sign the young talents.

Writing on Instagram, external, the pair confirmed their decision to leave Riverside Stadium, after coming through the club's academy: "After eight years at Middlesbrough FC, we have made the decision to leave the club.

"We thank everyone involved in developing us into the players we are today. From the medical staff to the coaches, this club will forever be a part of us.

"We have made memories and friendships for life but it is now time for us to start a new journey."

The Palmer twins, both midfielders, are yet to make their senior debuts but did spend time around Middlesbrough's first team, and have featured on the bench.

Both will be eligible to sign their first professional deals when they turn 17 years old in November.

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Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. In this third part, he looks on how Albion are conducting business amid the Premier League's financial restrictions.

On possible changes to profit and sustainability rules: "I think there is a vote coming up in the next few weeks to change that system.

"If it does get voted through, there would be a year having both systems and then it will be fully with the squad-cost ratio if it gets voted in. Which will be a lot more similar, but with differences, to the Uefa system.

"We are in the process of going through that. We don't have a view yet on which way we will be voting. There is also the top-to-bottom anchor and sustainability vote, so there is a lot for us to go through, but we will know a lot more and the votes will happen in the next month or so."

On the importance of the financial regulations: "It is really important, and there has to be some kind of financial sustainability.

"PSR has worked to an extent - it is far from perfect, but it has stopped clubs being able to spend whatever they want. No system is perfect. The advantage of the squad-cost ratio, is it is more real-time. It is looking over a season rather than looking backwards over a three-year period. But there are pros and cons to both."

On the biggest challenges the club face: "There are always obstacles - there is always difficulties. It is very difficult, first of all, for a club of our size to consistently punch above our weight and just to stay in the Premier League.

"You just need one season where things don't quite go right [and you are in trouble]. Three teams is a lot of teams to get relegated each season. When you look at it and think at least six of the teams really should not be anywhere close to ever being relegated - it doesn't mean they can't get relegated - it is not easy.

"We have to always be on top of our game, always be focused and not take anything for granted."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Find more from the interview by checking back over the Brighton page and come back later on Wednesday for our final instalment

Brighton have no plans to cash in on Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba in January despite the 21-year-old attracting interest from Manchester United last summer. (Talksport), external

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Even though it is the international break, there is still plenty to talk about at Brighton.

Do you have a burning question on a player's contract or form? Fabian Hurzeler's tactics? Or perhaps it is on expectations for this season?

BBC Radio Sussex Brighton reporter Johnny Cantor is here to help and he will be answering a selection of your questions later this week.

Get in touch with your question here

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Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. In this part, he discusses the long-term strategy for Albion.

On if it is becoming more difficult to compete with top clubs: "Everything about the Premier League every year becomes more difficult.

"Hence we have to always look to improve and innovate because if you stand still, and it is talked about a lot in many businesses, but particularly in the Premier League, our competitors are fiercely competitive. They are looking to overtake one another and get stronger all the time.

"We have to do likewise and ideally we are going ahead even faster than the other teams."

On others catching up with Brighton's analytics: "I don't know exactly what other clubs are doing. They don't necessarily talk about it, but you can assume they are spending a lot of money to try and improve in all areas - particularly the areas of analytics for their recruitment processes.

"We have to innovate and we just aim to get better every season, which we are."

On their 2030 vision: "This is going back 12-18 months ago because you need to energise the football club on a regular basis.

"It is about having a lot of goals and breaking them down in different areas. Over many months, Paul [Barber] and the management team are talking to all of our staff about how we can improve in their particular areas.

"On the football side, we have had our long-term vision for quite a while, in terms of our aim to be regularly competing for the top 10 in the Premier League and the top four in the Women's Super League. That stays. We have made the goal on the men's side to be pushing for Europe every season as well.

"We also talk about the fact that we are really pushing every season to bring a trophy to the football club. That would mean so much to our fans, to the club and to the city.

"It is just looking at each individual area to get to a level of improvement, and it is a gradual improvement because we are doing lots of things very, very well. But we must never stand still.

"An example is that we have brought in a chief technology officer for the first time and he has been a huge breath of fresh air, with lots of innovative ideas which can create efficiencies in many different departments."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Find more from the interview on the Brighton page throughout Tuesday and Wednesday

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Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom says a new designated stadium for their women's team remains "vitally important" to the club and the city but he "can't put a time on it".

Brighton hope to build a new purpose-built stadium for the women's team by 2027-28, having had proposals approved by the council in October 2023.

The Seagulls currently host the majority of their WSL matches at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium, with some games being played at the club's main Amex Stadium.

"We are really committed to bringing the women's team back to Brighton full-time with the stadium," Bloom told BBC Radio Sussex.

"We don't have a stadium outside of the Amex in the Brighton and Hove area to be able to play the games and unfortunately the Amex - the wonderful stadium that it is - can't host all of the games because of conflicts with the Premier League schedule.

"And it is too big of a stadium. We do it sometimes because we want to have games in Brighton but having four, five or six thousand in a 36,000 stadium isn't great for atmosphere."

In January, the club said it had identified a site for the new stadium but Bloom said there had been "delays" in making an announcement because of "things outside of our control".

"A designated stadium for women players, for the fanbase which is a very different demographic to people watching our men's team, I think it's vitally important to this football club and this city," Bloom added.

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Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor that included discussions around the squad, finances and the Seagulls' future.

Bloom on being a fan and the club's ninth season in the Premier League: "That excitement, that passion for the Albion hasn't dimmed at all. It's only grown and got bigger over the years.

"There's always big excitement for every game.

"I absolutely can't take it for granted [being in the top flight] but we have got to work really hard. Always number one is to make sure we have got the squad and to make sure we stay up each season.

"Things can go wrong during a season - it can go wrong very quickly - so we absolutely don't take anything for granted. We are always looking upwards, we are always looking to improve, but absolutely we want to be in the Premier League season after season if we possibly can."

On the summer transfer window: "The positive thing is we did a lot of business early. We always try to do [that] but normally it's not possible, .

"Every head coach wants that, so that was positive. We did get, early in pre-season, a few niggling injuries. A couple of players were injured and a couple of the boys were injured at the back end of last season so that was difficult.

"But we have just got a really good blend of young players in the squad who are going to be improving month on month, year on year, with some really good, solid pros and experience at the club too.

"I like the balance and I think that's really important."

On young signings: "Patience is required, absolutely. Every young player develops at a different rate and Fabian [Hurzeler] will know when to bring those players in [to the team].

"Obviously, it depends on the player's development, but even though we spend - sometimes significant sums for us - on young players, there is no pressure for them to be playing immediately. Absolutely not.

"The depth of the squad is superb and so that takes the pressure off. With some clubs, they buy a young player for a lot of money and the expectation and pressure is for them to get in the starting line-up quickly.

"As far as I'm concerned, at this football club, they will get into the first team when they are ready - when Fabian deems them to be ready and when the situation merits it."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Find more from the interview on the Brighton page through Tuesday and Wednesday