Chairman says Seagulls manager is here to stay and hints at January investment

Brighton and Hove Albion are sticking with under-pressure manager Sami Hyypiä and will back him in the January transfer window if the right player becomes available.

Hyypiä has experienced a frustrating start to life in the Amex hot-seat, managing just three wins from his opening 17 league games in charge - a run which has seen the Seagulls enter the latest international break in a disappointing 20th position and just one point outside the dreaded relegation zone.

A recent upturn in results which has seen the Albion take four points from the last two games has not dampened criticism from certain sections of the Seagulls support and Hyypiä's team have been on the receiving end of cat-calls from parts of the Amex home ground.

Much of the frustrating comes from Brighton's apparent inability to convert chances into goals. The Seagulls boast the division's third-highest average shots per game ratio (16.1) but only the joint 14th best in terms of efforts on target. The upshot has been just 17 league goals - an average of one a match and a total undercut by four Championship teams. Perhaps understandably, much of the blame for this record has been placed at the feet of the squad's strikers.

Sam Baldock, Adrian Colunga and Craig Mackail-Smith have just one goal each in the league this campaign, while Chris O'Grady has yet to find the net in the Championship since arriving from Barnsley in the summer.

In fact, eight of the Albion's 17 league goals, or 47%, have come from defenders. Some supporters have subsequently questioned the club's recruitment policy, while others have suggested the forwards are not being used to their strengths. The truth, however, is almost certainly not as simple as either polarised blame-game, finger pointing stance. Most observers though will agree that Hyypiä's squad would benefit from attacking reinforcements come January and the reopened transfer window. Those hoping it might be driven by a new manager, however, look certain to be disappointed.

Albion chairman Tony Bloom this week told Brighton and Hove Independent columnist Johnny Cantor that he hoped Hyypiä would be at the helm for some time to come.

Bloom, in an interview with BBC Sussex, backed his under-fire manager and hinted he could be convinced to sanction new signings to help fire the Seagulls up the table.

Hyypiä himself has recently spoken of his desire to add attacking talent to his squad - either via a loan deal or waiting until the New Year.

And Mr Bloom, who revealed that in terms of salaries, the current squad was the most-expensive in the Albion's history, told the BBC the club would consider adding extra players if the circumstances were right.

He said: 'Generally January is not a place I like to do business but for the right player at the right price, we certainly will.

"It depends a lot on injuries, how some of the short-term loans are going and if the players we want are available.

"Sometimes in January the prices are ridiculous because the best players are not available or are only available at a silly price. "We look at every situation on its own merits. I have no idea yet exactly what will happen."