Tony Bloom says Albion's long-term WSL ambition remains intact.

But he recognises the stated goal of breaking into the top four will be tough to achieve.

The Seagulls finished sixth last season having got off to a very strong start.

But their squad is going through a summer of change.

Aileen Whelan (Leicester), Emma Koivisto (Liverpool) and Ellie Brazil (Tottenham) have all joined rival clubs.

Those moves had all happened when Bloom spoke to The Argus about the progress of the women’s team.

Maya Le Tissier stunned fans on Tuesday night by announcing her departure.

She signed a two-year contract last year.

Bloom spoke before that news became public – and it is not clear whether he knew it was coming.

Albion set a goal of becoming a top ten club in the men’s game and top four among the women.

That was back in August 2019.

Bloom told The Argus: “We gave that long-term ambition three years ago.

“It is tough. The top three, particularly the top four clubs in the WSL are very strong and they have got big club names behind them.

“It’s not just all about money, although money does count.

“For some of the women to get offered to sign for those clubs is a big motivation.

“We don’t change. It is a long-term ambition for us. We aren’t changing it.

“We know it’s going to be tough but it is always good to aim very high.

“Being realistic, it is not going to happen in the short to medium term but certainly that is what our aim is and we will continue to have that tough ambition.”

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal remain the big three in the domestic women’s game.

Manchester United have emerged strongly in the last couple of years.

Now Newcastle United are saying they are targeting the Champions League as they plan a meteoric rise from the lower leagues.

Bloom said: “I don’t know too much about Newcastle’s ambition, in all honesty, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

“It’s tough. The Women’s Super League is becoming the best women’s league in the world, certainly in terms of depth.

“I wouldn’t say it is necessarily quite there yet.

“It is becoming very professional.

“Again, like the men’s team, all we can do is focus on ourselves, get as good as we can, try and improve the squad where we can and then prepare for every game in the best possible way and see where we can finish.”