Sussex

Andrew Raeburn
BBC Sport, London & South East

Crawley Town chief executive Tom Allman says the club's league position is far short of matching their playing budget this season - but remains confident of a revival in their on-pitch fortunes.

The Reds, who only escaped relegation on the final day of last season, are bottom of League Two after only one win in their first seven matches.

Allman has acknowledged their poor start to the campaign but backed the squad to turn it around.

"I don't want to be going up to Grimsby and watching us lose, so I completely understand the frustration," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"I think with some of the lads we've got in the squad, there's no doubting we need to be aiming higher than where we are.

"We believe our budget is certainly competitive. That's towards the higher end of the table and pushing for success.

"We've not got a top-three budget, or a top-seven budget, but we're certainly competitive.

"Fundamentally, the budget is better than where we are at the moment, it's just about getting those results on the pitch and looking onwards and upwards.

"It is only the start of October and while you don't want to be bottom of the league at any point, there's plenty of time for us to put some performances [together] and get those points on the board."

Image source, Shutterstock

Former Swindon Town, Hibernian and Crawley Town striker Harry McKirdy has announced his retirement from professional football, at the age of 29.

McKirdy was released by League Two side Crawley at the end of last season.

Writing on his Instagram account, external, McKirdy said: "After 14 years in full-time football, it's time to call it a day.

"I never thought I'd pack it in so early but sitting here where I am, happy in life, great people around me... how could I possibly have any regrets?"

McKirdy came through the youth ranks at Stoke City and Aston Villa, and made his senior debut at the start of a loan spell with Stevenage in 2016.

He had further loans at Crewe Alexandra and Newport County before being released by Villa in 2019.

McKirdy then played for Carlisle United and Port Vale before joining Swindon Town in August 2021.

He was named in the EFL League Two team of the season and and won Swindon's player of the season award for the 2021–22 campaign after scoring 24 goals in 44 games in all competitions.

Scottish Premiership club Hibernian signed him for an undisclosed fee in September 2022 but he failed to score in 33 games, mostly off the bench, and also had heart surgery during his time north of the border.

He returned to Swindon Town on loan in February 2024 and then had a short spell with Bromley.

McKirdy joined Crawley in June 2025, scoring eight goals in 33 appearances last season.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having been named the top-flight's player of the month for September, it leads to the question of whether Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross may be one of the best value-for-money signings in Premier League history.

In fact, the 35-year-old has effectively cost the Seagulls minus £3m - and been involved in 85 Premier League goals over two spells.

Nobody has been involved in more top-flight goals than Gross this season - six in five games.

He was Brighton's first Premier League signing in 2017 for a reported £3m from Ingolstadt and left for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8m.

But in a surprise move he returned to Albion in January for about £1.7m.

Since Gross first joined Brighton nine years ago, only three players have created more chances in the division than his 562 - Bruno Fernandes, Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.

And that includes the 18 months he was away from the Premier League.

Gross was Albion's first signing after they sealed promotion to the top flight.

A little-heralded German from relegated Ingolstadt, nobody could have anticipated the impact he, nor Albion, would go on to have.

Despite going home to join his beloved Borussia Dortmund two years ago and returning in January, he has played in 73% of Brighton's top-flight games since 1983.

"There's an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the past 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements," said BBC Radio Sussex commentor Johnny Cantor.

"However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room.

"He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age."

Only Chelsea's Joao Pedro can match Gross' goal contributions this season in the top flight (both three goals, three assists).

Remarkably, Gross has run more in the Premier League (almost 60km, 37 miles) than any player except for Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong all season.

The midfielder - who retired from international football after the World Cup - has also played every single minute for Brighton in all competitions, eight games so far.

This form led to him being the sixth oldest player to be named Premier League player of the month.

Read the full article here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Despite losing several senior players in the summer, Brighton sit third and have been the Premier League's most potent attacking force this season, leading the way for goals, expected goals and possession.

Long-range shooting has played a part, with Fabian Hurzeler's side scoring a league-high four goals from outside the box. That helps explain why they are the top flight's biggest overperformers in terms of finishing, scoring 16 times from an xG of 11.5.

That may not prove sustainable, but the Seagulls' pressing metrics suggest their strong start is built on more than just a hot streak in front of goal.

Just like last season, Brighton have the league's lowest figure for passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA). Their PPDA of 7.4 means opponents average approximately seven passes before Albion intervene, for example through a tackle, interception or foul.

Hurzeler is achieving that by fielding the league's third-highest defensive line, which compresses the pitch and enables the team to regain possession in dangerous areas.

Their open-play sequences begin an average of 47.4m from their own goal, which is the league's highest starting point and 6m above average. That approach is paying off, with Brighton recording more high turnovers than any other side, including 15 in their impressive 3-0 win over Arsenal.

The challenge for Hurzeler this autumn will be to maintain that intensity despite the additional demands of the Conference League.