Chris Hughton was surprisingly sacked by Brighton just a day after the conclusion of the Premier League season having kept them in the Premier League and led them to an FA Cup semi-final. Now the hunt for a replacement is already on and there is one clear favourite to take over on the south coast.
Graham Potter, the Swansea manager, is currently odds on to become Brighton manager after his first season in English football came to a close. The Welsh side finished 10th in the Championship but his side did reach the FA Cup quarter-finals where they were unfortunately defeated by Manchester City after a controversial goal by Sergio Aguero.
Potter has stood out as a top manager this season, continuing the remarkable success he had with Ostersunds in Sweden. He took them from the fourth tier to the Europa League group stages - in something usually saved for Football Manager - over the cause of eight years and was given his chance to manage in England.
Now he is the early favourite to land a Premier League job, but who could Brighton appoint if they choose to look elsewhere. Here are three potential candidates.
Frank Lampard
With Derby’s promotion hopes dangling by a thread after a first leg home defeat to Leeds United, Frank Lampard could be tempted by the glistening lights of the Premier League. If the club do remain in the Championship next season, it will be another tough ask for them to attempt to gain promotion, something that has just eluded them over the past decade.
However, Lampard, with such little managerial experience would be a risk for a Premier League side like Brighton, and he could be happy to cut his teeth at Derby and attempt to earn his promotion to the top flight. A promising young English manager who will have several chances to manage in the top flight in the future.
Frank Lampard celebrates with the fans after securing a playoff spot in his first season as manager
#DCFC
Steve Holland
Currently, the assistant manager of the England national team working under Gareth Southgate, Holland has a pretty cushy job at the moment. England are flying under this current coaching team who are developing a whole host of exciting young players who are not afraid of the big stage, as we saw last year at the World Cup.
With the Nations League coming up this summer, followed by a European Championships with the final at Wembley in 2020, it would be ridiculous for Holland to switch that for a relegation battle. But money talks, and Brighton would be able to increase his salary and give him the chance to cut his teeth as a number one.
Phil Neville
Phil? Phil?! Yep Phil Neville. Currently, in charge of England’s Lionesses, he is preparing for the Women’s World Cup in France this summer. Of course, he will want to see his side through that campaign and hopefully win the tournament which runs through June, but he would surely be tempted by a job in the men’s game if it came up.
July is probably too late for Brighton to hold off appointing a new manager so this one is incredibly unlikely to happen but if Neville can achieve success with the England team, Premier League sides may come calling.
