A Future International Manager - Chris Hughton
It still seems to be a two horse race in the betting to be crowned the winner of this year's Championship with Brighton really putting the pressure on pre-season favourites Newcastle to see who will finish in top spot at the end of the season, although Huddersfield's recent run of hot form means neither of the front-runners will consider this race over just yet.
Newcastle were the shortest price a side has ever been in the Championship title odds at the start of a campaign, and Rafa Benitez's side are now as low as 1/2 to win the title; but with all the internal problems at St James' don't rule out the chances of Brighton, who sit just one point behind the leaders and are doing a great job under former Newcastle player and manager Chris Hughton.
Hughton has done a fantastic job on the South Coast after the disaster that was Sami Hyypia's brief tenure in charge at the Amex, and with his side the toughest to beat in the division, losing just four matches all season, their rock solid defence may see his side pip his former employers into top spot.
The former Tottenham full-back hasn't really received the credit he's deserved in football management and his Mr "nice guy" persona is one that could possibly hold him back in future big term appointments in the ruthless football world.
Hughton started his management career in charge of the team he is hoping to beat in the race for the Premier League, Newcastle, where he was employed as caretaker manager twice before getting the St James' job full-time in the summer of 2009.
He inherited a Newcastle side that was known to have more problems off the field than on it, with some big name personalities in the dressing room including Joey Barton, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan. Yet the likeable Londoner was a popular choice with both the fans and players, and despite some headlines for off-field activities involving the players, it came as a huge shock that he was the first Premier League manager to lose his job in the 2010-11 season.
The former Republic of Ireland international took the loss of that job hard; senior players came out in public support for their former manager before he landed the job at Birmingham where he did guided them to fourth in the Championship before just missing out in the play-offs.
At the end of the 2011-2012 season, Birmingham gave Hughton permission to talk to Norwich. A move to Carrow Road followed, and after just 24 wins in 82 matches he was relieved of his duties in Norfolk in 2014 before he moved to Brighton.
Hughton is a good man and manager, great with the media, and the players he has coached hold him in the highest of regards. With success pretty much everywhere he's gone, it's a surprise that he's never mentioned as a potential England manager despite managing at the top for 10 years.
Despite the 58 year-old being born in Forest Gate he played 53 times for Republic of Ireland, and when Martin O'Neil decides to call it a day that might be the next stop for this underrated coach.
Author bio:
Nigel Seeley is a sports betting journalist for the Sun online, was a former sports betting journalist at the Racing Post, and is a regular on TV and radio talking about football and the world of betting.
It still seems to be a two horse race in the betting to be crowned the winner of this year's Championship with Brighton really putting the pressure on pre-season favourites Newcastle to see who will finish in top spot at the end of the season, although Huddersfield's recent run of hot form means neither of the front-runners will consider this race over just yet.
Newcastle were the shortest price a side has ever been in the Championship title odds at the start of a campaign, and Rafa Benitez's side are now as low as 1/2 to win the title; but with all the internal problems at St James' don't rule out the chances of Brighton, who sit just one point behind the leaders and are doing a great job under former Newcastle player and manager Chris Hughton.
Hughton has done a fantastic job on the South Coast after the disaster that was Sami Hyypia's brief tenure in charge at the Amex, and with his side the toughest to beat in the division, losing just four matches all season, their rock solid defence may see his side pip his former employers into top spot.
The former Tottenham full-back hasn't really received the credit he's deserved in football management and his Mr "nice guy" persona is one that could possibly hold him back in future big term appointments in the ruthless football world.
Hughton started his management career in charge of the team he is hoping to beat in the race for the Premier League, Newcastle, where he was employed as caretaker manager twice before getting the St James' job full-time in the summer of 2009.
He inherited a Newcastle side that was known to have more problems off the field than on it, with some big name personalities in the dressing room including Joey Barton, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan. Yet the likeable Londoner was a popular choice with both the fans and players, and despite some headlines for off-field activities involving the players, it came as a huge shock that he was the first Premier League manager to lose his job in the 2010-11 season.
The former Republic of Ireland international took the loss of that job hard; senior players came out in public support for their former manager before he landed the job at Birmingham where he did guided them to fourth in the Championship before just missing out in the play-offs.
At the end of the 2011-2012 season, Birmingham gave Hughton permission to talk to Norwich. A move to Carrow Road followed, and after just 24 wins in 82 matches he was relieved of his duties in Norfolk in 2014 before he moved to Brighton.
Hughton is a good man and manager, great with the media, and the players he has coached hold him in the highest of regards. With success pretty much everywhere he's gone, it's a surprise that he's never mentioned as a potential England manager despite managing at the top for 10 years.
Despite the 58 year-old being born in Forest Gate he played 53 times for Republic of Ireland, and when Martin O'Neil decides to call it a day that might be the next stop for this underrated coach.
Author bio:
Nigel Seeley is a sports betting journalist for the Sun online, was a former sports betting journalist at the Racing Post, and is a regular on TV and radio talking about football and the world of betting.