ALBION will make history tomorrow by playing in the richest football fixture ever.

The club stands to bag a minimum of £170 million if they emerge victorious from the promotion decider against Middlesbrough.

But leading accountants Deloitte’s estimate the game could ultimately be worth £290 million if the Seagulls then go on to survive their first season in the Premier League.

The financial experts believe that the incredible financial boost could propel Albion into the world’s top 30 revenue generating clubs.

Deloitte’s Richard Battle said victory in the fixture could secure ongoing financial stability for the club and leave Albion “well positioned for the future”.

Promotion to the Premier League would mean a revenue increase of at least £170 million across the next three seasons with extra revenue of £95 million and guaranteed parachute payments of £75 million should the club make a swift return to the Championship.

Albion have picked their time well to make a push for the top-flight with promoted clubs guaranteed a minimum of £40 million more this year because of the lucrative new television rights deals beginning next season.

Brighton and Hove are also set to reap the benefits if promotion can be sealed this Saturday with additional millions set to be pumped into the city economy.

A previous university study estimated that Swansea City Football Club’s promotion to the Premier League netted the Welsh economy nearly £60 million and 400 jobs.

Mr Battle, senior manager at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “The beauty of football is its unpredictability, and it will be only when the final whistle blows at the Riverside that we will be sure which team will gain promotion to the Premier League and in turn earn football’s most lucrative prize.

“Promotion to the Premier League provides clubs with the resources to make strategic investments on and off the pitch.

“Whilst the short term priority is usually investment in the playing squad, a strong emphasis on ongoing financial stability can leave a club well positioned for the future, whether or not they survive that first season.”