In the final instalment of the Brighton Fans’ Forum, Paul Barber answers a question on matchday ticketing and Fabian Hurzeler explains how he keeps a harmonious team.

Question: What work is being done to stop away fans from getting tickets in the home end? It stops proper fans getting tickets.

Advertisement

Paul Barber answered: “Unfortunately, a large proportion of those tickets are being sold by Brighton fans. So the first thing we’ve got to do is take care of ourselves and not do that.

“We’ve made it very clear that if home fans sell tickets on the black market then it creates tension in the stadium and it makes fans upset.

“There’s another percentage of people that may live locally and buy memberships. It’s very difficult for us as a club to determine that those people aren’t fans of other clubs. It’s only when they out themselves that we can take any kind of action.

“The largest majority will be our own fans selling them on. We have to stop doing that because it doesn’t help the team.”

Question: The club has brought in three centre-halves so are you intending on playing a different way this season? Or with the news Carlos Baleba is injured, will one of them be playing in the midfield? If not, how will you keep everyone happy?

Advertisement

Fabian Hurzeler answered: “It’s a big challenge for a coach to make everyone happy.

“You have to be clear that in certain moments you will disappoint players, but how you can handle that is with honesty.

“We were quite successful with a back four, but I don’t want to work that much with formations. I work with principles because no matter if you play a back four or five, they have to deal with situations. If they can do that then it gives me the flexibility to change the formation.

“We will stick to the back four, but we have the flexibility which is a great situation to have as a coach.

“In regards to the injury to Carlos [Baleba], I am hopeful that it is not that bad and that we will see him back on the pitch quite soon. You don’t need to worry that much about him.”

In the final instalment of the Brighton Fans’ Forum, Paul Barber answers a question on matchday ticketing and Fabian Hurzeler explains how he keeps a harmonious team.

Question: What work is being done to stop away fans from getting tickets in the home end? It stops proper fans getting tickets.

Advertisement

Paul Barber answered: “Unfortunately, a large proportion of those tickets are being sold by Brighton fans. So the first thing we’ve got to do is take care of ourselves and not do that.

“We’ve made it very clear that if home fans sell tickets on the black market then it creates tension in the stadium and it makes fans upset.

“There’s another percentage of people that may live locally and buy memberships. It’s very difficult for us as a club to determine that those people aren’t fans of other clubs. It’s only when they out themselves that we can take any kind of action.

“The largest majority will be our own fans selling them on. We have to stop doing that because it doesn’t help the team.”

Question: The club has brought in three centre-halves so are you intending on playing a different way this season? Or with the news Carlos Baleba is injured, will one of them be playing in the midfield? If not, how will you keep everyone happy?

Advertisement

Fabian Hurzeler answered: “It’s a big challenge for a coach to make everyone happy.

“You have to be clear that in certain moments you will disappoint players, but how you can handle that is with honesty.

“We were quite successful with a back four, but I don’t want to work that much with formations. I work with principles because no matter if you play a back four or five, they have to deal with situations. If they can do that then it gives me the flexibility to change the formation.

“We will stick to the back four, but we have the flexibility which is a great situation to have as a coach.

“In regards to the injury to Carlos [Baleba], I am hopeful that it is not that bad and that we will see him back on the pitch quite soon. You don’t need to worry that much about him.”