Dan Ashworth has revealed his goals for Albion.

The Seagulls' first ever technical director wants to help keep manager Chris Hughton in his job "for as long as possible" and make Premier League status sustainable.

Ashworth's appointment was announced in September after six years as the FA's technical director.

He was due to serve a six-month notice period until the end of March but the FA allowed him to spend two days a week with Albion last month and he has launched his return to club football sooner than scheduled.

The 47-year-old former sporting director of West Brom said: "I have always seen this role as being the conduit between the board and the football department and the way football clubs are set up now, they are vast.

"You've got the academy system, you've got a number of full-time members of staff and a long-term philosophy of young players for the club.

"You've got the player development role for the players that are in that transition between youth and senior football, out on loan for example, you've got player recruitment, as well as to try and support the first team manager, so they've grown so much in the last few years football clubs so it's in there to support.

"It's to try and keep the first team manager, or help keep the first team manager, in a job for as long as possible.

The Argus: "My job is not to try and tell Chris (above) what to do on the pitch or on the training pitch or from a tactical point of view. It's to help and support him.

"Recruitment, for example, is a worldwide thing now, and it’s so difficult for managers to find the time to be able to go and spend a great deal of time watching players in depth.

"Somebody’s got to do the sifting first, somebody’s got to make the recommendations first and Paul Winstanley (head of recruitment) has done a great job on that but again because of the way and speed in which the club is expanding obviously the chairman and the board’s view was that they would like another fairly senior football person in place to try and help the club go to the next stage and retain Premier League status."

Ashworth's long-term vision is to help establish Albion in the Premier League and have more players developing through the academy with first team potential.

He told The Argus: "Staying in the Premier League is always the main goal. For most of the clubs outside the top six there is always a chance you will get relegated at some stage.

"Look at the three that went down last year (Stoke, Swansea, West Brom). So it's a tough league and an unforgiving league. Ultimately it's about making the club sustainable in that league, maybe have a go at some cup competitions or in the years like, Burnley for example, or even Leicester who had a fantastic season and ended up in a position people wouldn't expect.

"I passionately believe about player development, so if we are in a position where our academy has got more international players and some more players in and around the first team squad, that would give me great pleasure as well."