Brighton's CEO Paul Barber has conceded that Graham Potter's recent move to Chelsea is not "ideal" for summer signing Billy Gilmour.
The midfielder made the move in the opposite direction, swapping Stamford Bridge for the South Coast as he penned a four-year deal with the Seagulls. Gilmour was deemed surplus to requirements by ex-Blues boss Thomas Tuchel, but he was then sacked from his post on Thursday and swiftly replaced by ex-Brighton boss Potter.
Some have claimed that Gilmour's sole reasoning behind joining Brighton was to play under Potter but that isn't entirely true. Though the idea of plying his trade under one of the most exciting managers around was a positive, he stands by his decision to move and still enjoys a stellar working relationship with the club's technical director David Weir after they worked together at Rangers.
Gilmour has already laid bare the reasons why he wanted to join the Seagulls, explaining how he was desperate to "enjoy" his football again off the back of limited game-time at Chelsea and a miserable loan-spell with relegated Norwich last term.
"For me, Brighton play great football, a style that I like to play, nice passing," the 21-year-old told My Albion TV. "The manager [Potter] is highly thought of as well. He's really good.
"I thought I wanted to come here. I also know a couple of players here like [Levi] Colwill and Tariq [Lamptey]. So I've asked them and they've been telling me how good a club it has been. I am looking forward to joining."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Gilmour right to leave Chelsea for Brighton? Comment below
Brighton's CEO Barber has admitted he is not worried about the situation Gilmournow finds himself in and is confident the midfielder will take this sudden change in his stride. With the club out of action until October 1, the player has more than enough time to settle before he's called upon.
Barber claimed: "It isn't ideal, far from ideal. But my experience of working with professional footballers for the last 25 years is that they are resilient and pragmatic.
"They take a lot of support from senior players at the squad. My limited experience of talking to Billy is that he is a very calm and very mature young man. He has been around football all his life and I'm sure he will take this in his stride.
"He will be helped by the other players and by Andrew Crofts and Shannon Ruth as need be. The fortunate position we are in is that we are not facing Premier League matches tomorrow, this week or next week. We have time. Billy is still finding his way around the training ground, let alone a new coach."
