Sussex

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have confirmed sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club with immediate effect.

Ayto joined the Seagulls in September 2025 as their first sporting director, having worked at Arsenal for more than a decade in a variety of technical roles.

On his exit, in a statement chairman Tony Bloom said: "I'd like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future."

Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber added: "Jason has been a valued team colleague on our strategic leadership group.

"I'd like to thank him for his contribution since he joined the club and wish him all the best going forward."

Technical director Mike Cave will now oversee all sporting areas of the club, working with the existing senior team and reporting to Barber.

It is rare for Brighton to get a major recruitment decision wrong but it would appear owner Tony Bloom has decided it was better for Jason Ayto to leave immediately, after just nine months in the role of sporting director, rather than limp into the summer transfer window knowing the appointment just has not worked out as intended.

The Seagulls believe that as most of the work around analysis, planning and scouting - the areas club sources say were the main aspects of Ayto's role - have been done, the 41-year-old should be released to increase his chances of getting alternative employment.

The precise reasons for the decision are not being made clear, beyond there being a number of them.

What is being stressed is the "complete confidence" in the rejigged structure to deliver the squad head coach Fabian Hurzeler needs for a campaign which, for only the second time in the club's history, will include European competition, with Brighton expected to challenge strongly to win the Uefa Conference League.

The work remaining in Ayto's main areas will be done by the south coast club's current recruitment team.

Technical director Mike Cave will lead on incoming transfers, with chief executive Paul Barber looking after significant sales, to uphold Brighton's reputation as tough negotiators, if clubs come in for the likes of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Both men have vast experience in recruitment and know Brighton's 'model' intimately.

While Cave, who joined the club in November 2022, reports directly to Barber, will prioritise this summer's window, he will also be across Brighton's longer term plans.

How do you feel about the unexpected exit? Is it a concern heading into the summer? And what do you make of another reshuffle in your club's hierarchy?

Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brighton forward Anthony Knockaert says leaving the club may be "the biggest regret" he has in his career.

Knockaert left for Fulham in 2020 after a successful spell with the Seagulls.

Speaking to Albion Unlimited he said: "The best part of my career, I played four years here and four years I was really successful. Maybe the biggest regret I have in my career is I left this club."

Watch Knockaert discuss his view, external

Listen to Albion Unlimited

Following the news that highly-decorated 40-year-old midfielder James Milner announced his retirement from playing on Monday, Warren Aspinall reflected on his career with BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor.

The Seagulls finished 11th and eighth on two occasions while Milner was at the club, qualifying for Europe for next term which they will secure fully if they progress through Conference League qualifiers.

Aspinall added: "You can say how fit he was and how he looked after himself but he still picked up little niggles. That's probably your body telling you enough is enough. Probably the family as well, his wife has put up with quite a lot and the children moving here and there, they've sacrificed a lot so I think it's time for him to sacrifice a bit for his family as well and be with them.

"We don't know what the next step for him is, probably in coaching somewhere along the line. He was always pushing himself and if he's pushing himself to the limits, he's asking his team-mates to do that and that's what he is.

"A model professional, teetotal and he has given everything up, more or less to have 24 years in the top flight."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up

In the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Johnny Cantor assesses the potential impact caused by the departures of Solly March, Adam Webster and James Milner.

Also, former Brighton midfielder Gary Dicker joins from the United States to talk about the players heading to the World Cup, and Seagulls defender Maxim de Cuyper shares his hopes for Belgium.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

In a new BBC Sport documentary, James Milner reflects on a career that has ended at 40, after making a record 658 Premier League appearances with six different clubs.

Team-mates and coaches reveal the drive behind 24 years at the top.

Watch below or on BBC iPlayer here

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says James Milner was welcome to stay at the club for a further year.

Barber says Milner's attitude both on and off the pitch makes him a "remarkable person".

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Watch - 'Unbreakable' - a special iPlayer documentary on Milner