CHRIS HUGHTON has warned future managers will be forced to concentrate only on the first team following the surprise sacking of Paul Clement by Albion’s promotion rivals Derby County.

The Seagulls boss has labelled Clement’s departure as “very harsh” and says the current average length of reign for managers of 14 months is nowhere near long enough to get their ideas across.

Hughton has spoken out after Clement, appointed eight months ago, was axed on Monday along with Rotherham’s Neil Redfearn.

He said: “The big difficulty with management these days, and the big fear, is that in years to come for the modern day manager it will just be about the here and now.

“We have a very good academy here, an under-21 group that is developing. There are other aspects of the club you want to show a real interest in, perhaps get involved in. The fear is the modern day manager can only concentrate on the first team and trying to get results. I think that’s a shame.

“We are all aware of the numbers that have lost their jobs already this season and the tenure, which is on average 14 months.

“That is nowhere near enough for a manager to install in the club what he wants but we know that is how it is and at the moment I don’t see it changing. The role of the manager will be very much just as a first team coach and trying to get results immediately.”

Hughton is already the tenth longest serving manager in the Championship, and 38th in the country, 13 months into his spell at the Amex.

Derby, two points and a place below Albion in the Championship in fifth, ditched Clement after seven league games without a win, the same downturn suffered by the Seagulls before they bounced back with a hat-trick of victories.

Hughton, 57, said: “I must admit I was surprised. I think it was very harsh at this stage of the season, in the position they are in, that he lost his job. They are still in a very good position. They certainly have a good enough squad and enough depth to finish in one of the top two positions and I think they will be right up there come the end of the season.”