The chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion has saved the day for fans whose flight was three hours delayed meaning they could have missed kick off. 

Anxious fans were taking their luggage from the overhead lockers on their flight to Marseille this afternoon, thinking they were going to miss the start of their first ever Europa League away day when they heard the voice of their saviour Tony Bloom.

He was on the phone to plane crews who put his voice onto the speaker so all passengers could hear him saying all was not lost. 

Tony Bloom was broadcast to the passengers saying: "Meet people at arrivals in UEFA pink bibs.

"They will take you to a bus which will take you to a collection point. 

"From there they will take you to stadium. All being well you will make it for kick off."

"Up the Albion."

Fans on the plane whooped and cheered in response with some yelling "Seagulls" in support of their team. 

Albion has also arranged storage for the fans' luggage. 

The flight was due to leave Heathrow at 11.10am but did not leave until 2.22pm. 

They did not land in Marseille until 4.45pm, just two hours before kick off at 6.45pm CEST.