Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom rewarded for his don't sell policy as Dale Stephens stays

Securing the signature of Dale Stephens until 2021 before he flew out of Heathrow yesterday with the rest of the squad provided further confirmation that Tony Bloom gambled and won the jackpot.

The poker-playing owner-chairman rolled the dice when he sent Burnley packing SIX times in last summer's transfer window.

They were desperate to take Bolton boy Stephens back up north for their own rise to the Premier League.

Bloom said no to them, no to Newcastle as they targeted Anthony Knockaert and no to Crystal Palace, who wanted Lewis Dunk.

All three have played major roles in making amends for the agony of last season, when the controversial red card for Stephens in the promotion decider at Middlesbrough contributed to the dream staying on hold.

Now it is Boro who will be in the Championship again next season, while Albion will be facing Burnley in the Premier League - with Stephens playing for rather than against them.

Manager Chris Hughton said: "Credit to the chairman who turned down the offers last summer.

"I think that gave Dale an indication of how we valued him. From then it has been the process."

That process has progressed from Stephens (below) handing in a transfer request in the dying embers of last summer's window to knucking down, gradually rediscovering his form following a few early injury niggles and flourishing once more into a composed central influence in Albion's historic climb.

He told The Argus: "Last summer, that was part of the argument, whether we could make the step up this season.

"It was a gamble but within the squad I thought we had enough and I'm very happy that I managed to stay this season and we have gone on to get promoted this year.

"I have enjoyed the three-and-a-half years playing at this club. When I first signed, I came in the hope that we would reach the Premier League in the first couple of years.

"It took a bit longer but now I'm looking forward to going into the Premier League as a Brighton player."

And with the support of his family, enjoying a double celebration after his home town club's promotion back to the Championship.

Younger brother Macauley was among the first to celebrate Stephens' new deal with the Seagulls on social media yesterday.

Moving back home was part of the attraction when Burnley came calling - but not as big as the chance to test himself in the top flight.

"Everyone I know and my family all know the aim was to play in the Premier League," he said. "Now I get the opportunity to do that with Brighton.

"I have been down south quite a long time. I was with Charlton before Brighton, I've played most of my best football in the south and I'm happy to stay here for another few years."

At 27, they should be the best years of his career. Stephens was prominent in the partying euphoria which followed Albion sealing promotion at the Amex on Easter Monday and has taken him to where he wanted to be.

The disappointment at losing out on the title to Newcastle and another knees-up as a result of Jack Grealish's late equaliser in Sunday's draw at Aston Villa (above) does not alter that.

"You could see what it means," Stephens said. "It's a massive thing for the club and the city. You saw the reaction of the players, the staff, even the manager.

"He has been there and done it before but you could see how much it means to everybody, a massive achievement that everyone can be proud of.

"It hurt not being champions and the way it happened but, if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we've definitely achieved what we wanted to at the start.

"You can't be too disheartened, because at the end of the day we're going to be in the Premier League next year. That's all that is important.

"It's not really hit home yet. I think once we see the fixtures come out (June 14) it will hit home a little bit more and you'll see the tasks ahead.

"It's exciting. A lot of our players have not played there before so we are in the same boat. But we are confident we can go in there and compete."

Helped by a sprinkling of signings this summer in an attempt to avoid the same fate as Middlesbrough.

"It will be nice for new faces to come in and help us," Stephens said. "It will be good to have competition.

"It's a little bit of a step into the unknown but it's what everybody has worked for, so to be able to do it with Brighton is exciting but we are under no illusions.

"It will be tough. We'll be playing against some of the best players in the world.

"We'll look forward to big games against the top six. It will be like a surreal moment. That's what we have worked hard for and what everybody deserves."

Stephens will be satisfied to begin with emulating the club that pursued him so persistently last summer.

"I don't think we are going to do a Leicester and go and win the Premier League. Maybe the year after!" he joked.

"If we manage to stay up as soon as possible then we can look at things after that. The first target will be to stay in the Premier League."

Albion's chances of achieving that have improved now that Stephens has put pen to paper.