Brighton boss Chris Hughton believes incoming technical director Dan Ashworth is an “excellent acquisition” for the club.

Ashworth will join Albion next spring after leaving the same role at the Football Association.

He will oversee the Seagulls’ academy and medical departments, as well being responsible for player recruitment and development at all levels.

Hughton, who has known Ashworth for a number of years, feels the 47-year-old’s appointment highlights Brighton’s recent progress.

“I think he’s been brought in at a time when the club have made big strides over the last few years; promotion to the Premier League, the academy doing well, the ladies’ team now playing in the top division, a growing medical department,” said Hughton.

“They are the quite obvious reasons why the club felt they needed to bring somebody in.

“Dan’s somebody I’ve known for a long time and certainly you want somebody with the experience that Dan has.

“It’s great news for us because once you make that decision that you want to bring somebody in in that role, it’s about who you can bring in.

“As regards the candidates, they probably at this moment don’t come any higher than Dan and he has a very, very good CV.

“I think it’s a great acquisition for the club, we are certainly delighted and look forward to him starting.”

Ashworth is considered by many in the game to have played a key role in England’s upturn in results and was recently linked with Manchester United.

During his time at the FA, England claimed the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups, the Under-19s became European champions, while the prestigious Toulon Tournament was won three years in a row.

Hughton, who had little involvement in the recruitment process, does not expect his own job to change when Ashworth, who worked at West Brom before joining the FA, takes up his new position.

“No input in who was going to get the job but I was made aware of it right from the start so, as regards the process, I did speak to Dan,” added Hughton, whose team face Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday.

“I was certainly made aware from the start why the club wanted to go down this route.

“Dan’s somebody that has a lot of experience in the roles that he’s had, in particular at West Brom for a number of years, and then at the FA.

“Nothing will change in the way I go about my role and the job that I have to do.”