Simon Jordan points to West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday in warning to other clubs | OneFootball

Simon Jordan has warned Premier League sides to be wary of the examples of West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday

Simon Jordan has used Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom as examples that Brighton need to be wary of as they compete in their 10th top flight campaign in a row.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side have qualified for European competition this season after coming eighth in the table in the previous campaign.

The Seagulls’ best finish since gaining promotion was a sixth place in 2023 under Roberto de Zerbi, which led to them competing in the Europa League for the first time.

However, Brighton have yet to win any silverware during this period, reaching an FA Cup semi-final on a couple of occasions.

Meanwhile, the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have all enjoyed success in recent years, ending long trophy droughts.

Brighton have settled into a period of consistent mid-table finishes, but some supporters are wondering when the club can achieve more than that.

Simon Jordan issues Sheffield Wednesday warning to Brighton

Action Images

Jordan believes that Brighton will realise that finishing mid-table every year is enough when they end up suffering relegation from the Premier League at some point.

He pointed to big clubs like West Brom, Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United as examples that the Sussex outfit must avoid following, as they could one day long for a return to mid-table finishes in the top flight if they’re not careful.

“I’l tell you what is enough, when you get relegated,” said Jordan, via Talksport.

“Then you realise it was enough.

“Im not suggesting even one of these clubs should be thinking along those lines, but there are big clubs that dropped out of the Premier League, that have been out of the Premier League for a very long period.

“Whether it be Leeds in their first version before they got back and went up and down again, whether it be West Bromwich Albion, up and down, Jeremy Peace was their chairman and ran it very well for a long period of time, or it be Sheffield Wednesday or Nottingham Forest, former European champions that took 23 years to get back.

“All this sort of stuff.

“So, Brighton, you have to do it in the rounds.”

Brighton will begin their Conference League campaign next month, while their 3-2 victory over Manchester United midweek ensured they also progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

Hurzeler’s side have made a promising start to the new season, earning seven points from a possible 12, leaving them fifth in the table.

West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday’s declines

West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday have both had periods of sustained top flight football since the inception of the Premier League.

The Owls were even one of the top sides in the country in the early 1990s, finishing second in the inaugural Premier League season.

But their time at the top came to an end, and it’s now been 26 years since the Yorkshire outfit competed at the highest level of English football, and they now find themselves competing in League One.

Meanwhile, the Baggies haven’t been in the top flight since 2021, and it remains to be seen how many more years both clubs will be waiting until they make their return.

Action Images

Brighton can always be replaced

Brighton have earned a reputation as smart operators and tough negotiators, and their model has proved quite sustainable in their 10 years in the Premier League.

But nothing lasts forever, and all it takes is one or two bad years and it could lead to the kind of slide down to the Championship, and lower, that Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, Sunderland and many other clubs have experienced over the years.

The EFL Cup and the Conference League both offer the Seagulls a fantastic opportunity at silverware this season, and Hurzeler should be focused on achieving success in at least one of these competitions.

Brighton have never won one of the major trophies in English football, nor have they ever had success in Europe, so now is the time for the team to try and make history, as that opportunity may not come around again.