Tony Bloom believes Albion have pulled off a coup with the appointment of Paul Barber as chief executive.

The former Football Association commercial director and Tottenham Hotspur executive director will join the Seagulls on June 18.

Barber, 45, pictured right, has a wealth of experience, both from the football and business sectors.

He was a member of the England national team’s official party to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea as well as the European Championships in 2000 and 2004.

Albion have cast their net wide to find a new chief executive following a boardroom reshuffle in March when Martin Perry announced he was stepping down and managing director Ken Brown left the club.

They received hundreds of applications for the post but chairman Bloom insists they have found the man they wanted.

Bloom said: “The board’s aim was to bring in a top-class chief executive and Paul fits that criteria.

“He has a great deal of high-level experience across a number of sectors but most importantly has a great CV in terms of football.

“Having worked for the FA, Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, he has excellent knowledge and experience of the commercial, marketing and communications side of the game, here in the UK and overseas.

“Paul also has an extensive network of contacts across the football industry, which will be of great benefit to the club as we strive to progress.”