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  1. 🎧To the Conference Leaguepublished at 18:52 BST 26 May

    The season is done and dusted but there's more from Albion Unlimited.

    Join Johnny Cantor, Warren Aspinall and Guy Butters as Albion reach Europe and the season gets assessed.

    Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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    Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

    Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up

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  2. 'We were so close to achieving more' - Grosspublished at 11:16 BST 26 May

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    Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross believes his side were "so close to achieving" more after a 3-0 defeat by Manchester United left the Seagulls resigned to a Conference League place next season.

    A draw or win would have seen Fabian Hurzeler's men secure a place in the Europa League but they were leapfrogged by Sunderland, who beat Chelsea on the final day of the season.

    You can listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds

    Find more Brighton content here

  3. 'Brighton back on an even keel and ready to move forward'published at 08:02 BST 26 May

    Yankuba Minteh and Carlos Baleba push Fabian Hurzeler towards the supporters to celebrateImage source, Getty Images
    Chief football writer Phil McNulty byline banner

    Now the curtain has come down on the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, here is my end-of-season review - with a look back to what I predicted in August.

    Prediction: 11th

    Fabian Hurzeler's future at Brighton looked bleak mid-season, when fan discontent surfaced at Amex Stadium, but this fiercely driven and competitive young German coach turned it around to not only take Brighton into Europe, but also sign a new contract through to 2029.

    After a period of uncertainty, this superbly run club now look back on an even keel and ready to move forward once more - both in Europe and domestically.

    What I said in August: "Brighton are always pleasing on the eye and they will not take a backwards step under Hurzeler. Another decent season awaits."

    Check out the rest of my review here

  4. Conference League 'a great chance to win some silverware'published at 18:24 BST 25 May

    A Brighton supporter dressed as a SeagullImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton let Europa League football slip away, but Conference League football will be a "great chance" for Fabian Hurzeler's team to win some silverware next season, believes The Telegraph's Luke Edwards.

    The Seagulls have never won a major trophy, with the 1983 FA Cup final - which they lost in a replay to Manchester United - being as close as they have got.

    "Brighton will be disappointed because of the manner in which it happened," Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "That Europa League spot was in their own hands going into the final game of the season, and then they went and got pumped by Manchester United.

    "There will also be disappointment because the financial difference between the Europa League and Conference League is quite sizeable. But, as Crystal Palace have shown this season, it is possible to go far in the Conference League.

    "Brighton have never won a major trophy, so this will be a great chance for them to win some silverware.

    "There will be a bit of frustration, but I do also think there will be an immense amount of satisfaction after coming through their difficult spell this season.

    "They are a brilliantly run football club, and they have been for a number of years."

    Listen to Football Daily on BBC Sounds

  5. Euro place makes season a success, says Dunkpublished at 12:13 BST 25 May

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Brighton skipper Lewis DunkImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk says European qualification represents a season of success at the club.

    Defeats by Leeds and Manchester United in the last two games left Brighton sweating on Brentford not getting an injury-time winner at Liverpool to deprive them of a place in next season's Conference League.

    Rather than feel underwhelmed at the prospect of entering a third-ranked competition, Dunk believes it is a measure of how far Brighton have come that after never previously qualifying for Europe in their entire history, they have now done it twice in four years.

    "100% it's a success" he said.

    "If you look at the size of the club, should we be here? Probably not. But we overachieve a lot. That's our thing. It's hard to compete with the big boys but the manager talks about challenging the establishment and I guess we have because we're in Europe."

    The season has ended with an element of uncertainty at Amex Stadium.

    Coach Fabian Hurzeler offered no clarity on the future of 40-year-old James Milner, whose contract expires at the end of June.

    Central defender Adam Webster is set to leave the club but Solly March and Joel Veltman are also out of contract this summer and Brighton are yet to confirm if talks are ongoing over new deals.

    Brighton will start their new season slightly earlier than their Premier League rivals given they enter the Conference League at the play-off stage and play the first leg on 20 August.

    Dunk thinks there are lessons to be learned from their run to the last 16 of the Europa League in 2023-24.

    "It was new to us," said the 34-year-old. "I don't think anyone in the football club really knew what was going on.

    "So, now we've experienced it, we have felt it. We have to back ourselves to get to the end."

  6. 'Limp' display suggests 'Europe will not be easy'published at 08:06 BST 25 May

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    Brighton captain Lewis DunkImage source, Getty Images

    We asked for your views on Brighton securing Conference League football next season.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Barry: Despite somehow stumbling into Europe's lowest-tier competition, Brighton ended the season in embarrassing fashion with a limp 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United. On paper, European qualification sounds impressive; in reality, this performance exposed just how far off the pace Brighton looked against a side that had nothing to play for.

    Paul: A shambolic performance from the team. Totally clueless from front to back. So fortunate to have qualified for Europe and if we play like Sunday next season we will be in a worrying position.

    Fran: Very poor performance but not unexpected. It seemed like we were on the beach as nobody played well. We need to strengthen for next season as Europe (Thursday/Sunday) will not be easy. Overall, a very up and down season!

    Philip: Truly awful performance after a promising start. Lack of firepower and coordination up front evident and seemed like some players had started their holidays already. Went hoping to celebrate a great season and left feeling deflated even though Europe was back on the cards.

  7. 'It's another milestone in the history of this club'published at 20:27 BST 24 May

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler Image source, Getty Images

    Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has hailed European qualification as another significant milestone in the history of the club.

    Despite the disappointment of ending the season with a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United, Brentford's failure to win at Liverpool meant Brighton were able to reach the UEFA Conference League, even though Sunderland leapfrogged them on the final day.

    It will mean a club that never played in Europe in its entire history until two seasons ago will get to experience it again next term.

    The Brighton fans quickly shrugged off the disappointment of their team's performance against Manchester United to celebrate the achievement.

    And Hurzeler also feels it is something to take immense satisfaction from.

    "There are mixed feelings because on the one side, it was the worst timing for that kind of performance," he said.

    "But on the other, it is the second time now we are in Europe so that's why we should see it more as an achievement.

    "It's very important to see where we came from and to see our development in the last years.

    "The club always tries to find small steps where we can [to get] the most potential from everyone.

    "I see how hard the players have worked for this achievement and that's why I think it's another milestone in the history of this club."