Newcastle United's search for a sporting director is progressing but Brighton hope that Dan Ashworth decides to stay put after holding talks with the Magpies.
Newcastle's owners enlisted the help of recruitment firm Nolan Partners to find the individual who will eventually act as a bridge between head coach Eddie Howe and the club's new chief executive.
This is a crucial position that the hierarchy have been keen to take the time to get right. The sporting director will help establish an overarching strategy at the club for the medium and long-term and oversee the men's first team, the women's team, player recruitment, the academy, medical and sports science, and the loan department.
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Newcastle were previously given permission to speak to Ashworth, who is one of a number of candidates, last year and Brighton CEO Paul Barber, naturally, does not want to lose the former England technical director.
"I hope Dan stays for as long as possible," he said. "There are always going to be options for our best people, whether they are players, coaches, staff, to take other opportunities as they come along.
"To some extent we cannot control that, obviously. Our policy - again being very open - is always when we are approached by other clubs for our staff is that we want our staff to go and have that conversation if that is what they have been invited to do.
"Because sometimes, and in fact in a lot of cases, they go to those conversations, they look at what the option is and then they come all the way back to us and say, 'Actually I am very happy where I am and I like where I am.'
"Whereas, if you block them from that opportunity, it can build resentment and then you deny someone a career opportunity and they resent the club for it and then, at some point in the future, it will end anyway. So we hope Dan stays for a long time."
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