ALBION boss Chris Hughton is plotting a return to the top six in the Championship.

But he admits he will have a better idea about their chances by the end of the transfer window.

The Seagulls fell away at the end of last season, taking two points from the last seven games to finish just above the relegation zone.

Hughton has branded that the “only negative” of his six-and-a-half-months in charge and his aim now is to steer the club back into the play-offs.

Hughton said: “I think it has to be. I think you generally get a feel when the transfer window closes that you are a competitive enough squad, not just a team. That gives you the best possible opportunity.

“I’m also very conscious how difficult this division is and after, two years finishing in the play-offs, we had a very difficult season.

"I also know we need to be far better than we were last season but that is possible if you look at the teams that have been in the play-offs in the last few seasons.

“But we have to make sure we have a squad that’s competitive enough at the start of the season.”

Hughton is halfway through his squad rebuilding after signing goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa, full-backs Liam Rosenior and Gaetan Bong, and striker Tomer Hemed.

He said: “The recruitment department are still working very hard and considering we had five loan players that went back at the end of the season and three or four out of contract, we know that we need by the start of the season to be near the numbers we want.

"It’s a long, tough season and you have to account for injuries. The plan is to bring in more players.

"Sometimes that takes longer than expected, but we’re working very hard on that.”