Albion head of recruitment Sam Jewell is heading to Chelsea.

Jewell has accepted a role at Stamford Bridge and is now on gardening leave.

Mike Cave, assistant technical director, supported by George Holmes, scouting and intelligence manager, have taken over Jewell's responsibilities with the Seagulls.

In a statement, Albion thanked Jewell "for his long service to our club".

Cave joined Albion last season from Fulham, where his roles in an impressive eight-year stint included academy director.

Holmes was a performance analyst with Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool and has been with Albion since 2011, working for most of that time as a European recruitment analyst. 

Jewell is expected to remain on gardening leave until November unless agreement can be reached with Chelsea.

He will follow his Albion predecessor Paul Winstanley on the well-trodden path to the West London club.

Others to have followed that route in the last 18 months include Graham Potter, Bjorn Hamberg, Billy Reid, Kyle Macaulay, Ben Roberts, Bruno Saltor, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea are looking to return to the previously undreamt of heights they enjoyed during the Abramovich era and clearly have great admiration for the progress made by the Seagulls.