Albion chief executive Paul Barber revealed he has conversations with goalkeeper Maty Ryan about the recent interview he did with Australian media.

Ryan, who joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season last month, did an interview with Optus sport in which he spoke about his plan 'to play a couple of seasons at Albion before being bought by a bigger club’.

He also stated that he made a ‘massive step up’ by joining the Gunners.

Read the full story here

Those comments have not surprisingly divided Albion fans with some saying his remarks were disrespectful, while some felt he was just being honest.

However, on the fans forum last night Barber revealed that he had spoken to the Australian international, who was disappointed by some of the comments he had made recently.

He said: “I exchanged texts with Maty last night. He did an interview with Australian TV, where he made one or two comments, he really wasn’t happy with afterwards in terms of the context in which they came across.

“He has a huge amount of affection for this football club and for the fans of this club.

“Maty is very popular within the dressing room and all of us in the backroom of the club and very popular with all of the coaching staff.

“Unfortunately, sometimes these things happen in football when a player loses their place at the club and eventually for him, he just wanted to have an opportunity to play somewhere else.

“Then a big club like Arsenal comes along and it takes a lot for me to say Arsenal is a big club given my background.

“All I can say is good luck to Maty and let’s hope that it works out for him.”

After joining Albion in June 2017, Ryan established himself as the No.1 for three-and-a-half seasons.

However, this in this campaign he lost his place in goal to Robert Sanchez, who has impressed with his performances in the Premier League.

With Potter preferring Jason Steele and Christian Walton, the 28-year-old was left out of the squad.

Since joining Arsenal he has made one appearance for them in the Premier League in their defeat to Aston Villa at the start of this month.

But despite recent events, Barber insisted that the keeper will always be welcome back at Albion.

He said: “He is always welcome back at Brighton, he is welcome to come back and see us whatever happens as he is currently on loan at Arsenal.

“As I say his affection for our club and the fans of this club is fantastic and goes very deep.

“So, I think people cannot forget we gave him the opportunity to play in the Premier League, brought him in from Valencia at the start of our life in the Premier League if you like and he did a fantastic job in three seasons, so we have been very lucky.”

Ryan will be hoping to get his first involvement for the Gunners in the Europa League tonight (8pm) as they face Benfica.