Albion chief executive Paul Barber has congratulated staff for helping to deliver a third season for the Seagulls in the Premier League.

The deputy chairman has also told them next season "won't be any easier" following the brush with relegation and says the club will need to "re-double our efforts".

Barber emailed staff and directors this morning after Albion's safety was confirmed by Cardiff's home defeat by Crystal Palace last night.

Owner-chairman Tony Bloom's righthand man told them: "Congratulations for playing your part in helping our club to secure its third successive season in the Premier League! This is a significant achievement.

"It’s been a very tough few months for everyone. And there can be no doubt we have all learned a lot about how difficult it is to compete at the highest level.

"After almost 4 decades outside of the top flight, and having played at this level for only 6 seasons in our club’s entire history, we always knew we faced a very big challenge.

"We also know, if we didn’t already, that if our performance in any area of the club, on or off the pitch, drops by just a few percentage points, we face very serious consequences.

"We should, though, also reflect on the other positives this season: an FA Cup semi-final, our women’s team’s first WSL campaign, the success of our U23s in Premier League 2.

"Maintaining our Premier League status will help us to continue to build our club and brand, to develop our facilities, and to support our women’s and girls’ programme.

"It will also help us to continue to support the great work Albion in the Community does, and, very significantly, to help grow our fan base for an even more sustainable future.

"But next season won’t be any easier. We will need to take a breath, re-focus, re-double our efforts, and prepare to do it all over again: we face another exciting challenge!"

Albion still have a part to play in the race for Champions League qualification and the title away to Arsenal today and at home to Manchester on the final day.

They are currently five points and two places worse off than last season.

Barber added: "For now, though, we must ensure we see out our remaining two matches of the current season professionally: both games are live on TV; and there are still points to play for."