Brighton chairman makes big admission after Seagulls secure Premier League promotion

The Seagulls won promotion back to the top flight of English football after a 34 year exile on Easter Monday as they beat Wigan 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.

The Sussex club had been beaten in the play offs for three of the previous four years, but they got over the line this time thanks to rivals Huddersfield only drawing at Derby.

Local boy Bloom has put £250 million into the club since taking over in 2009, but is a lifelong Albion fan.

Professional gambler Bloom, whose uncle Ray is also a director of the club and whose grandfather Harry was vice chairman, insists though that no risks will be taken with Brighton's future: “The amounts of money in the Premier League do equalise things a bit. Money is spent every season at every single club.

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Tony Bloom celebrates Brighton's promotion to the Premier League Fantasy Premier League tips: Top transfers ahead of FPL Gameweek 34 Mon, April 17, 2017

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“We have to strengthen, that goes without saying. But we're not looking to spend huge amounts. We'll do things on a gradual basis as we have done. We have good players already, and we want to strengthen from that position.

“It's about decisions, tough decisions to be made in all areas of the club. I have big help from a very stable set of directors. They give myself and Paul Barber, our Cheif Executive Officer a huge amount of support.

“Then it's about making good decisions. Hopefully the main decisions you make are the best ones for the club, and you move on from there.”

Brighton almost dropped out of the Football League 20 years ago and were homeless and on the brink of extinction for years as they were forced to play home games at Gillingham, and at Withdean Athletics Stadium.

Bloom, who was 13 when Brighton dropped out of the top flight in 1983, said: “This is a great city, a great fan base, an amazing stadium sold out every game, and hopefully on the pitch we will do the city and our supporters proud.”

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Brighton sit top of the Championship after their win against Wigan

“I’m looking forward to all 38 games next year.

“Myself and 30,000 people there on Monday – some of them weren't alive 20 years back – will feel elated that we're now in the Premier League. We were this close to going out of the Football League. What would the future have held if we were in the Conference without a ground?

“I was 13 at the time we dropped out of the first division, and there was disappointment at getting relegated. But it wasn't the big deal it is now in terms of getting back in. I thought we'd come back next season or the season after, but it never happened. We got close in 91 in the play-off final, but was a downward spiral after that.”

Bloom paid tribute to manager Chris Hughton, who has transformed the club in the two and a half years he has been in charge: “Chris is one of the most respected managers in football. He gets a huge amount of credit from me. Everyone is impressed with the job he's done at Brighton. But he deserves the credit.”

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