Fabian Huerzeler takes questions at first Brighton press conference

A change of club was not on his agenda at that stage, least of all heading to the Premier League.

But everything he said, and the way he put his message across, at Lancing yesterday suggested he expects a smooth transition for himself and the ambitious club he is joining.

New managers and head coaches always come across well at their introductory press conferences and this was no exception.

The stage is theirs, there is a clean slate. They are still unbeaten.

“I didn’t receive a yellow card yet in the Premier League,” Huerzeler said with a laugh to a question about him being a “hothead”.

It feels like this latest appointment, if all goes well, will be more about progress than change for Albion.

As was the case when Graham Potter was succeeded by Roberto De Zerbi, they do not need a wholesale revamp.

But this is a great opportunity to add something extra, take the next step.

All the time protecting their status in what Tony Bloom said he feels is the toughest-looking Premier League for some time given the calibre of the teams coming up.

What smooths the passage for Huerzeler is that he visited the Amex last season – and also got to know the club behind the scenes.

This was part of a general interest in English football more than a possible career move and the trip did not just take in Brighton.

Now, speaking to a packed media room in Lancing, he said: “I spent here one day and the people were very open-minded.

“I had some talks with David (Weir, technical director), I had some talks with Pascal (Gross), of course.

“I always need to have a good feeling and the feeling here was amazing.

“I experienced amazing things here during the winter vacation, not only in Brighton but in the whole UK.

“The people were very polite, very helpful.

“This was my experience during the winter vacation.”

Huerzeler has spoken to all players since his recent appointment and looks forward to meeting them in person.

There will be some changes to what we saw with De Zerbi and, again if all goes well, one will be in the goals-against column.

He said: “When you look at my statistics at St Pauli, it’s important that we have a good balance between defensive stability and controlling the game.

“We conceded the least goals in the league and had the most ball possession, so both if possible, and on top of that I’m a big fan of set-pieces, because set-pieces are a game changer.

“They are a matchwinner, so this would be part of my identity.”

De Zerbi was a young coach but Huerzeler is even younger.

As expected, the fact he is 31 was pointed out a few times and his customary response is to say he is a young man, not a young coach.

(It is also worth remembering his age makes him about ten years older than several of his star players, if that is of any relevance).

As a youngster, he realised he would not reach the heights to which he aspired as a player.

“I won’t play for Brighton, for example!”

So he focussed on coaching instead.

It was put to him that the fact he is similar age to players was an advantage for him.

Maybe he could empathise with them, even join them on the PlayStation.

He said: “To be honest, I never played the PlayStation because I never got one.

“Some say there are advantages and some disadvantages.

“I will be authentic and speak the language of the players.

“It’s important to see the person behind the player.

“To know their feelings, know their habits, their wishes because if you don’t feel comfortable you cannot perform 100%. I don’t have the highest experience as a player but I played a long time.

“In my youth, I had great coaches. I am sure this helps me a lot.”

Huerzeler made no secret of his ambitions to be a Prem head coach.

He said: “It’s important in life to have targets for orientation and it was always a target to be in the Premier League.

“But it’s also surprising that it’s now.”

So, as Bloom said, he is a good fit. The theory is all in place. It is now about putting things into practice.

And, with his predecessor, in practice things reached a point of no return.

The careful limits on spending and the willingness to sell star players at the right time and for the right price led to friction.

That, though, is the way the club operate. It will not change. Head coaches know that when they arrive.

Huerzeler said: “I completely identify with this philosophy. It’s part of the business.

“We have a very good squad and I think it’s normal that when you achieve big things there might be interest from other clubs but I’m completely convinced that if important players leave, new players will replace them.

“I had the same at St Pauli. After six, seven months we had a huge run with a lot of success, three of my most important players left because they wanted a new challenge.

“As a coach you have to accept that.

“The first option is that you can complain or you can continue and work with the new players and that’s the option I choose.”

And then there is the way recruitment works.

He said: “The club and Tony and his team will look at the data and then I will look more at the football in a specific way and see if he will fit with us and at the top is the character of the player, which is very important for us.

“If everything fits together, we decide he can be part of our squad.”