Brighton CEO Paul Barber says club move fast to replace Hyypia

Hyypia won the Champions League with Liverpool and over 100 caps for Finland during his playing career

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says the club will work as quickly as possible to replace Sami Hyypia.

Hyypia, 41, quit as manager on Monday after one win in 18 league games.

Barber knows a swift appointment is key with the Seagulls in the Championship's relegation zone and the January transfer window just over a week away.

"Clearly we don't want there to be uncertainty for too long, particularly with the transfer window around the corner," Barber told BBC Sussex.

"This is our opportunity to reinforce the squad where we can.

"It's never easy to do business in January but if there are possibilities to do that we will."

BBC Three Counties reports that Brighton have approached MK Dons to speak to Karl Robinson about the job.

Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom arrives back from Australia on Wednesday to begin the process of replacing Hyypia, who was appointed in June on a three-year-deal.

"In the summer we had more time, we weren't in the bottom three," Barber said. "You look at who is available and again we will go out to select the best person for the job."

Barber added he has already been contacted by interested candidates and is determined to get the next appointment right.

"As soon as you accept a resignation you have to move on," he added.

"A number of people have already contacted us, we have to narrow that list to a small group of people we'd like to meet and we'll aim to do that as quickly as we can."

Former Crystal Palace and Stoke manager Tony Pulis, ex-Spurs head coach Tim Sherwood and Norwich's old boss Chris Hughton are other names being linked with the job at the Amex Stadium.

And Barber says Bloom will lead the search for a new manager.

"Tony is calm, methodical and detailed," he said. "He will say the manager appointment is the most important appointment a chairman makes so it is only right and proper he is back here to take charge of the process."