Brighton and Hove Albion set to name Oscar Garcia as Gus Poyet's successor

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague announces news on Twitter although the club have made no comment regarding the rumours

Former Spanish footballer Oscar Garcia looks set to be named as new Brighton and Hove Albion manager (GETTY IMAGES)

Brighton Hove and Albion will confirm Oscar Garcia as Gus Poyet’s replacement according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Poyet was controversially sacked from the Championship side while live on air working as an analyst for BBC3’s coverage on the Confederations Cup.

Club chairman Tony Bloom had said on Monday that he hoped to have an interim manager in place by tomorrow following Poyet’s sacking, but Balague took to his Twitter account this morning to break the news.

He said: “Oscar Garcia, the new Brighton manager. A consecuent decision and a young up-and-coming manager with Barcelona DNA. Sort amic!”

Garcia left Maccabi Tel Aviv at the end of last season having guided them to the Israeli league title, identifying personal reasons as to why he needed to leave.

Maccabi have announced that their head fitness coach Juan Torrijo Navaro and assistant coach Ruben Martinez are to leave the club as well as Garcia, with the three expected to link up at a new club.

Maccabi’s sports director Jordi Cruyff said: “We fully understand their desire to continue their partnership with Oscar Garcia.”

Despite being the favourite with bookmakers to replace Poyet, who was dismissed for an alleged breach of contract, Garcia has little knowledge of the English game.

Having played across Spain for Barcelona, Valncia, Espanyol and Lleida among others, Garcia entered coaching in 2009 with the Catalonian national team as assistant to Johan Cruyff, before returning to Barcelona as youth coach.

After a two year spell in the role, he made the switch to Israel where he spent a single season in charge before leaving the club.

He is expected to be named as the new Seagulls boss following the outcome of an appeal by Poyet over his dismissal.