Tuesday 19 February 2019 23:29, UK
Dan Ashworth has rejected suggestions his new job is a step down after he left his role as England technical director to take up the same role at Brighton.
The 47-year-old was part of the extended team that helped Gareth Southgate's side reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia last year.
Brighton have slipped into trouble at the wrong end of the Premier League table while Ashworth was serving his six-month notice period with the FA.
The club sit three points above the drop zone having not won a top-flight game in 2019 but Ashworth is excited by the challenge that lies ahead.
"I don't view it like that at all," Ashworth said when asked if he was taking on a more minor role than his previous one.
"Any team that's trying to stay or get in the Premier League is competing at a top level and a world level.
"International football and club football is different - one's not better or worse than the other, they're just different."
Ashworth, who has known Albion boss Chris Hughton for a "number of years", will be responsible for the club's ongoing football development, as well as overseeing the academy and player recruitment at all levels.
Despite his remit, he insists Hughton will make the final decision on new signings.
"My job is not to try and tell Chris what to do on the pitch or on the training pitch or from a tactical point of view. It's to help and support him," added Ashworth.
"The manager has to have the final say on any player coming into the first team squad. If the manager doesn't like, fancy, rate a player coming in then clearly the manager is not going to play them."
Despite struggling for form since the turn of the year, Ashworth is confident he will still be working for a Premier League side next year.
"We've got a good squad and a good manager, so I'm confident we'll still be a Premier League club next year," he said.
