Ex-Palace chairman issues Tony Bloom statement amid Arsenal and Moises Caicedo transfer stand-off

The high-flying Seagulls are currently sixth in the Premier League table at the midway point of the season, having achieved their highest-ever finish in the top flight last season (ninth).

Albion are currently above Chelsea and Liverpool, the latter of whom they knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday thanks to a last-minute winner from Karou Mitoma.

This is Brighton’s sixth consecutive season in the top flight, having previously gone 34 years without playing in England’s top division.

Jordan, who was chairmen of arch rivals Crystal Palace for ten years between 2000 and 2010, says the success is down to chairmen Bloom.

Speaking on TalkSport, the ex-Palace owner said: “Tony Bloom is a remarkable chairmen. If you look at Brighton, and I used to regularly through the back of my hands laughing at the plight they found themselves in at the Withdean, and you now look at them now, Tony Bloom is the only reason.

"The stadium, the advent and development of that football club from where it was under Dick Knight to where it is now is down to one man. If you can’t see that and can’t support that and don’t say ‘in Tony we trust’, then I don't know who you would trust in football.

"He has lifted that football club to a level with his money, his decisions, which he is made good and bad ones along the way. They had a scout hut for a boardroom, look at Brighton now and that’s down to Tony Bloom.”

Lifelong Brighton fan Bloom succeeded Dick Knight as owner in 2009 after securing a 75% shareholding in the club and investing £93 million in the development of the club's new ground – the Amex Stadium.

Bloom has adopted a policy of not standing in the way of employees talking to other clubs, as long as the deal is suitable to him and Brighton.

Because of this, the club has made more than £170 million from the sales of Ben White, Yves Bissouma, Marc Cucurella, Dan Burn and most recently Leandro Trossard.

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Brighton also made up to £20 million from the departures of Graham Potter and his staff to Chelsea in October.

Bloom is currently in a transfer stand-off with league leaders Arsenal over the potential signing of midfielder Moises Caicedo in the this transfer window.

Albion have said the 21-year-old is not for sale this month and have already rejected two bids from the North London club, the latest reported to be worth £70 million.

Caicedo has stated he wants to go this month but the club have placed him “on leave” until after the transfer window and want their player to focus on preparing for the next Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Amex on February 4.