Albion are set to cash in commercially on a monumental scale now they are jumping onto the Premier League gravy train.

But they will also need to keep the businesses and supporters loyal to them through all the bad times on-side to retain the club's community ethos.

That is the balancing act facing former captain turned commercial manager Paul Rogers and his staff as the Seagulls are propelled into a world of mega advertising deals and global business interests.

It has already begun. Rogers (below left) revealed to The Argus last month - before promotion had been clinched - that he has suddenly been inundated by enquiries from national and international brands.

The Argus: There are rich pickings to be made - but also a tightrope to be walked - as Rogers' counterpart at Bournemouth, Rob Mitchell, can testify.

Mitchell has a particular interest in how Albion adapt to the path already trodden successfully by Bournemouth from the Championship to the Premier League.

He was born in Brighton, was a Junior Seagull, and grew up watching them at the Goldstone and withdean.

He joined Bournemouth when, like Albion, they were scraping around in the lower divisions.

Now they have secured a third season in the Premier League with its mindboggling commercial advantages, benefits Albion can capitalise on even more than Bournemouth because of the size and facilities of the Amex compared to the much more compact Vitality Stadium.

Mitchell told The Argus: "It has been a considerable leap in terms of commercial income.

"When you look at our shirt sponsorship value, I cannot reveal figures because of confidentiality, but the income we generate now through the deal compared to the Championship is massively higher.

"We are still very limited with our corporate facilities. We were selling out in the Championship and we are obviously still selling out in the Premier League.

"We are limited by the size of the stadium, so it's difficult to generate a lot more revenue through those channels.

"We've had to really focus on maximising income through sponsorship, advertising and things like the LED advertising around the pitch, where you are charging £25,000-£30,000 a minute to advertise on there.

"It's incredible income compared to when it was static advertising around the stadium. It was about £3,000 for a six-metre board.

"The exposure is so much bigger for a Premier League team. You are being seen by billions of people around the world tuning in to watch.

"It has really raised our profile, not only nationally but overseas as well with the mass audience the Premier League attracts."

Albion's rags to riches story will appeal to a worldwide audience able to watch Premier League matches live, including on a Saturday afternoon when it is barred domestically.

It has worked for Bournemouth, who were in an even worse predicament than the Seagulls when the Goldstone was sold and they almost dropped out of the Football League 20 years ago.

In 2008-09 the Cherries started in League Two with a 17-point deduction following relegation and falling into administration the previous season.

The Argus: Mitchell (above) said: "Americans in particular have taken a big interest in us, because we are such a small club in a big League and have come from League Two in such a quick period.

"They have started following us as an underdog and appreciating our story."

Local businesses will benefit from regular big away followings, as opposed to the couple of hundred supporters travelling to watch Rotherham at the Amex in the Championship.

Mitchell said: "Every week we have a full away allocation. Brighton will find the away end will be packed out every week and, as a tourist destination with the hotels, restaurants and bars, people will come and stay for the weekend."

Some of these businesses will have supported Albion through thick and thin. This will be the trapeze artist-nature of the commercial operation.

"It's nice that the phones are ringing, rather than having to chase and do so much outbound calling," Mitchell said.

"We had to have a balance and I am sure it will be the same for Brighton as well.

"You've had lots of local businesses that have been supporting you and you have now got national and international brands that want to be associated with the club because of Premier League status.

"It's that balance of making sure you are still working with and looking after the diehards that have supported you through the difficult times but also maximising these revenue opportunities you have through the big companies who want to spend big money.

"At the end of the day football is a business. We need to generate the income to fund players and the business as a whole."

Nowhere in the football universe is that business more lucrative than in the Premier League.

* In part three tomorrow Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe on the Premier League challenges for Albion on the pitch