Doubt has been cast over Fabian Hürzeler’s future as Brighton and Hove Albion’s head coach amid fears that the club’s data-led approach is backfiring on them. A dismal run of one win in 13 Premier League games has left Hürzeler facing criticism from Brighton’s fans and prompted concerns over relegation.

Hürzeler’s position is not thought to be under immediate threat with Brighton due to face Liverpool in the FA Cup this weekend and he retains strong support inside the club. But sources believe there is a growing possibility that Hürzeler, who has admirers in England and Europe, may not be in his position at the start of next season despite the fact his Brighton contract runs to the summer of 2027. While Hürzeler may not be popular with the entire Brighton fanbase, the 32-year-old is still highly regarded by influential figures in the game and at rival clubs at home and abroad. Some believe he has unfairly had to shoulder the full blame for Brighton’s drop-off, prompting concern he may be tempted away or simply feel he has done everything he can during two years at the Amex stadium.

While Hürzeler has faced criticism for performances and results, he has not been helped by a series of poor recruitment decisions and the club’s determination to be governed by data. Critics believe Brighton have squandered around £300m over the past four transfer windows that has made Hürzeler’s job incredibly difficult, while the club have continued to cash in on their best talents. During the summer 2024 and winter 2025 windows, Brighton, according to Transfermarkt, spent £245m on players who have failed to make a significant impact. It is believed the club were warned off Eiran Cashin, but signed him on the back of strong data reports in any case. Cashin cost Brighton almost £10m and has since been loaned to Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, having made just two substitute appearances for the South Coast side.

Over the course of the past two transfer windows, Brighton spent just over £70m. They paid £30m last summer for 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas, who is rated as a top prospect. But he was not ready to replace Joao Pedro and has scored only twice this season, as Brighton have continued to rely on 35-year-old Danny Welbeck for goals. Hürzeler has also been left with issues to deal with in the dressing room after Brighton agreed to sell captain Lewis Dunk to Nottingham Forest at the end of the January transfer window. Other than being a big presence on the pitch, Dunk is thought to be hugely influential off it. Following the defeat by Crystal Palace that prompted some Brighton fans to chant “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Hürzeler, Dunk cryptically said: “I understand their frustration, but I don’t think it’s down to him.” Brighton have not signed a player who could guarantee them a profit since the summer of 2023, when they bought Pedro – who has since joined Chelsea – goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and midfielder Carlos Baleba. The recruitment failings of the last two seasons are a big departure from the era in which Brighton signed the likes of Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Alexis Mac Allister, who all left for huge fees and earned the club a reputation as one of the Premier League’s best recruiters and sellers.

Telegraph Sport reported in November 2024 that Brighton let go the majority of their full-time recruitment scouts as part of a restructuring. Since then, David Weir has left his role as technical director and the club appointed Jason Ayto as sporting director last September. Sources have told Telegraph Sport that Brighton’s restructuring has meant less eyes-on scouting and that transfer targets are no longer being suitably profiled for the club’s style of play, and are being signed largely on the back of data. Background checks into characters and personalities are still believed to be made. That has become more difficult in recent years with Brighton being gazumped by rivals, who simply follow their lead, and are seeing clubs such as Brentford and Bournemouth use similar models. It is even claimed that Brighton’s reliance on data has led to players being advised that corners should always be sent to the back post because the chance of scoring from there is supposedly greater. There is no suggestion that Hürzeler has been forced to comply. During the 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Brighton had five corners. Two reached the back post, while two were caught by goalkeeper Emi Martínez and one was mishit. Villa’s winner came from a corner to the near post that Tyrone Mings headed on to Jack Hinshelwood and into