Football fans will love this. He’s a class act.
With Brighton and Hove Albion set for Premier League football next season, their manager Chris Hughton received an awful lot of praise on Monday night after sealing automatic promotion from the EFL Championship.
Since taking over in 2014, The Seagulls have kept an impressive 47 clean sheets in 111 league games and Hughton’s men have also won 58 of their last 111 league games. Incredible form.
Of course, Hughton is no stranger to the Premier League because the former Republic of Ireland international had already secured promotion with Newcastle in 2010.
After being dismissed at St James’ Park, he then led Norwich to an 11th-place finish in the top flight during the 2012-13 season.
Ultimately, he was also dismissed from his position at Carrow Road,
At the time of his departure from Newcastle United, the club were 11th in the league table. Alan Pardew replaced him and finished 12th that season.
On reflection, after news that Hughton was sacked by Newcastle, the words of LMA chief executive Richard Bevan seem particularly poignant.
He said: “The LMA is extremely disappointed that Newcastle have parted company with Chris given the success the club has experienced since his appointment. Throughout his time at Newcastle, Chris has conducted himself with tremendous integrity and dignity, the team’s current position of 11th demonstrating the stabilising effect Chris has had in his role as manager during his period at Newcastle.”
Rather than dwell on the past, George Caulkin, North East football journalist at The Times, has given a small insight into the integrity and dignity that Hughton conducts himself with.
After hearing that Brighton were promoted, Caulkin sent their manager a quick congratulatory text.
Take a look at how Hughton replied to it. A class act.
We’re certain that the Brighton manager will receive a rapturous applause from the Newcastle fans when he returns to St James’ Park.
https://twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes/status/854624550683889664
