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Brighton & Sussex

With their best ever victory 5-0 away at Sheffield United last Saturday the Seagulls go from strength to strength in the Premiership and Europa League.

It’s a magnificent achievement given the players sold and injured.

Also we play elegant attractive football under Roberto de Zerbi who is top quality.

Leadership from Tony Bloom, a collective spirit, excellent recruitment and good coaching are all also factors behind this success.

The goalscoring problem has been resolved by signing Jaoa Pedro from Watford, 18 year old Facundo Buonanotte looks a fine Argentine midfielder,

Pervis Estupian attracts acclaim at left back – and no doubt interest from other clubs – and Kouru Mitoma is as good a winger as you could find.

The only player to have gone off the boil is young Evan Ferguson.

We know that some of these will be sold but Tony Bloom drives a hard bargain.

Arsenal had to play top dollar for Ben White and Leandro Trossard but both are highly instrumental in the Gunners’ recent successful run.

Another important factor is the fans expectation level. We know we will lose our top players but Cucurella at Chelsea (£62 million) has hardly set them alight. We always seem to find an effective replacement.

Over at Sussex CCC they have signed John Simpson from Middlesex and West Indian speedster Jayden Haynes.

The accounts show we made a small loss last season.

Revenue was £6 million and expenses the same, players’ salaries at £3.5 million the most significant cost.

Affable chairman Jon Filby has put a positive face on the departure of Rob Andrew to the ECB, the resignations of Ian Gould and Sarah Taylor from the board and Ali Orr going to Hampshire.

The fans, anxious to rediscover the successes of the Noughties, are more interested in achievement on the field.

The development in the corner at Eaton Road entrance called Tate Residence has proved profitable but the commercial space has not yet been let and it’s a one-off development.

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About Ivan Conway

Ivan Conway will be reporting on Sussex sport. He is a member of the 1901 club at Brighton HAFC, Sussex County Cricket Club and an enthusiastic horse race goer. After selling his freight forwarding and conference business he settled in Hove. His other interests are bird watching, brass rubbing and bridge. More Posts