Brighton coach speaks about Chris Hughton's sacking

Rosenior, who played 51 games for the Seagulls in three seasons under Hughton before retiring to take up a coaching role, spoke highly of Hughton on The Debate show.

Hughton was sacked by Albion on Monday morning after a run of just three wins in 23 Premier League games, although he did keep the Seagulls in the top flight for a second successive season and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Rosenior said: "First and foremost I can only say good things about Chris Hughton. As a manager he's been outstanding wherever he's been and as a person he's had the biggest influence on me in terms of how to conduct yourself as a professional - whether that's as a player, a coach or a manager.

"Whatever he does next he'll be a success.

"In terms of what happened today, it was a sad day for the club and a sad day for the chairman to have to make the decision.

"It was a sad day for the staff. For four years there was an unbelievable relationship between everyone at the football club.

"Over the last six months there's been a staleness in performance and we've only won three in 23. It's a very difficult stage for the football club - a football club that has been in the Premier League for two years and now the natural question is 'what's next?'.

"It was a really difficult step and for me a really difficult one on a personal level."

Rosenior was on The Debate with Chelsea Women's manager Emma Hayes and former Coventry and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin.

Hayes felt Hughton deserved the opportunity to try to take Brighton forward and said: "It's so challenging in a profession where there's so little loyalty and dignity.

"We're talking about a person who has brought so much to the football club and got them to a point where firstly they're staying in the Premier League.

"However thi