🎧 Crofts on working with Hurzeler

Andrew Crofts says he's "loved" his time working with Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton and believes it's a "really exciting" period for the club.

Crofts made 125 appearances for the Seagulls during his playing career and re-joined the club in 2019 as a coach. He even had a spell as interim head coach after Graham Potter left for Chelsea, but is now assisting 31-year-old Hurzeler as a first-team coach.

Speaking about working with Hurzeler on the latest Albion Unlimited podcast, Crofts said: "I've loved it - he's really demanding, really intense in how he wants the team to play. It's really exciting, I think the fans will have been very excited with the performances so far.

"He's come in with lots of new ideas as well as keeping some of the ideas that we had in the last couple of seasons. He's been really great to work with along with the other staff. I think we've got a really exciting squad with strong competition for places - there's a real buzz."

The former Brighton skipper spoke about his current role at the club and said: "I love it, it was the natural next step in my progression. I've worked with the team for a good period of time and built some really good relationships.

"I feel I'm making good strides to where I want to be and how much I can help the new manager in how he wants the team to play and the environment and the culture. It's something that I love - the more work for me the better."

Crofts also joined Craig Bellamy's coaching team with the Welsh national team last month and speaking about how hard it is to balance his work between club and country, he said: "It's not difficult. It's like a player, when they play for their club and then represent their country. I miss no work here, because most of the players are on international duty as well.

"For my development, for my next steps it stands me in good stead. I've learnt so much the last few years as a first team coach and now an assistant coach and already the time I spent with Wales I've learnt so much.

"It's always good to keep absorbing as much as you can and have as many experiences as you can to hopefully help players and people that you work with."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds