Albion boss Gus Poyet has warned about the size of the task facing his League One title winners in the Championship next season.

He says it will be crucial to bring in the right type of players in the summer if the Seagulls are to be a force at the next level.

Poyet told The Argus: “I think this year we have done very well with the squad that we’ve got in this division. The whole squad needs to have more quality next year, so we need to make sure we get the right players.

“Players will be stronger, more powerful, quicker, better technically, so we need to get better. It’s a big, big, job we’ve got in the summer to get the players that we need.”

Former Albion loan signing Matt Heath believes Poyet’s passing style of play will be even better suited to the Championship.

The centre-half, who was at Leeds when Poyet was No. 2 and played for Colchester in Monday’s 1-1 draw against the Seagulls, said: “I think it’s a lot easier to play that way in the Championship.

“In this league teams are going to try to get in amongst you and try to break it up. Fair play to Brighton this season, they have seen teams off and tired teams out.

“Next year in the Championship teams will probably let them have the ball a little bit more. They will be more compact and it will be harder to break teams down but I definitely think they will be able to play that way.

“It’s a big step. The higher up you go most of the players are proper athletes, with size and pace and strength. It’s going to be hard for them but I am sure they will hold their own in there.”

Poyet expects Saturday’s last ever game at Withdean against promotion-chasing Huddersfield to be an awkward assignment for his players.

Captain Gordon Greer, available again after a four-match suspension, will be presented with the League One trophy.

Poyet said: “It’s a difficult occasion for the players, because there will be celebrations going on and we are playing against a team who have already beaten us and are going for promotion.

“We’ll ask the players to enjoy it as much as they can but to concentrate enough to win the game, be professional.”