Albion have backed the compromise deal which settled one of the Premier League’s burning issues.

Chairman Tony Bloom and chief executive Paul Barber reckon clubs got it right on how to divide income generated from the sale of television rights to overseas markets.

On behalf of Albion, they voted in favour of a new structure which sees existing income protected but extra revenue from new deals divided depending on league position.

Albion received £40.8 million from overseas rights last season, the same as each of their 19 rivals.

That sum made up almost 40% of the Seagulls’ overall Premier League income in their debut season.

Top-six clubs had asked for a bigger share of the overseas rights, an area which has grown way beyond all expectations during the 26 years of the Premier League.

In the end, the prospect of additional profits from new deals around the globe made something akin to having your cake and eating it possible.

Barber told The Argus: “We were very sure the compromise deal was the right deal.

“We said that virtually from the day we joined the Premier League.

“Tony and I were very much in favour of compromise.

“We don’t think there is anything to be gained from any sort of internal strife in the Premier League.

“The strength of the league has been on the collective selling and the unity that the league has had over 15 years.

“We have had to give up a little bit in order to achieve that.

“But our view is the strength of the collective is more powerful than what we have given up in the short term.

“That is something we have evaluated very carefully, looking at the factors and numbers in our own position.

“In the end, the Premier League led by (chief executive) Richard Scudamore on this one, got the vote through.

“We feel very satisfied that the issue that has been bubbling around for quite some time now is done.

“None of the clubs can go backwards. We will all continue to go forwards.

“It’s just that those who perform better in the league will go forward at a faster rate than the others “That is not uncommon in terms of most leagues around the world.”

Albion will be looking to match or better their 15th place last term when the new season starts in August.

Should they preserve their Premier League status, they will have a free weekend in February 2020.

That is when a new winter break kicks in, with one round of Premier League games split over two weekends.

Barber said: “With the England team looking to potentially benefit, this was a very clever way of splitting a break.

“With the FA wanting a benefit for the national team from a break, they had to give up something and they have effectively given up the fifth round of the FA Cup moving to midweek.

“The Football League has to give up something in the League Cup.

“Because we have got three very pragmatic figures in Richard Scudamore, (FA chief executive) Martin Glenn and (EFL chief executive) Shaun Harvey, something that everyone said was impossible has actually been achieved.”

The switch to midweek for FA Cup fifth round ties will be unpopular with many fans, the abolition of extra-time in Carabao Cup ties less so.

Barber said: “Time will tell whether it has any benefit to the national team.

“But no one can say all the footballing bodies haven’t tried to cooperate and make it happen.

“I for one, though, think it’s a good thing.

“I think it’s good for players to get a break even if they are not international footballers.

“Hopefully fans won’t see too much of a difference.

“Premier League football will continue through the break.

“It’s just that half the teams will play one week and half will play the other.”

Albion were pleased with how their ideas on fans sitting in away areas were received.

They believe supporters should be made to sit in specified areas of what, in any case, are all-seater stands.

That would allow those who prefer to sit an uninterrupted view of the game they have paid to see.

Albion already plan to put such a change into operation for visitors to the Amex in an area near the back of the South Stand.

Barber explained: “We have got a raised area at the back which is separate.

“We think it might be better for us to put our version of the seating area there rather than at the front.

“When I said that at the meeting it raised a few eyebrows with people and then obviously they started thinking about their own stadia.

“The natural reaction is to put people at the front which is more logical except that, in my experience of being a young kid, being at the front of the stand with the pitch having a camber on it is not always the best viewing position.

“It can actually be one of the worst when you are small.

“We will see what other clubs do but the good thing is everyone said ‘Yeah, we shouldn’t disadvantage elderly people, infirm people or children. We should actually be embracing them’.

“At one end of the spectrum, these older fans have probably committed to their clubs for decades.

“At the other end of the spectrum, we want these children to commit to their clubs for decades.

“Either way you can make sure, to ensure their loyalty, we want them to be able to see the game.

“I think that is typical of the Premier League.

“When someone puts forward an idea which is of merit and is reasonable then they tend to get behind it very quickly and try to make it happen.

“Once all clubs have got this in place and are aligned to it, it could become a regulation “But, initially, we are doing it on a goodwill basis because it makes sense and it’s fair.

“We need to find a way to make this happen.

“The other thing we discussed is how many people does this affect.

“It’s probably up to 5% so, with an allocation of 3,000, that is up to 150 seats.

“It’s not as many as people think.”

Albion will monitor a shift in thinking on safe-standing. But their own stats are interesting.

Clubs could eventually be allowed to let fans stand between rows of seats rather than having to install rail seating.

Barber said: “The one significant change for me is that whilst everything has been driven to rail seating, what is now being questioned is how dangerous it is to stand behind the current seats?

“Are we really saying it’s unsafe to stand behind seats we have got?

“The evidence doesn’t support that.

“From seven seasons at the Amex, we have had one injury and that from an adult who actually stood on a seat!

“Our record at the Amex has been very good.

“The attitude of clubs if they didn’t have to significantly invest in rail seating might be quite different to if they had to invest a lot of money to take out seats and put in something else which would effectively take the stadium backwards rather than forwards. We’ll see.”