STEPHEN Ward’s agent says the Irishman was right to sign for Burnley in August - insisting Brighton and Hove Albion only have themselves to blame for missing out on the deal.

Ward spent last season on loan at Brighton and had looked set to join the south coast club on a permanent basis at the start of the current campaign after negotiations with the Seagull’s head of football David Burke and their chairman Tony Bloom.

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But a last-ditch offer from Burnley to play in the Premier League saw the 29-year-old move to Turf Moor instead.

Ward had established himself as a regular for the Clarets before fracturing his ankle against Newcastle earlier this month.

His agent Scott Fisher said: “Brighton are a wonderful club.

“But I did everything in my power to make it happen before somebody else came in.

“There were things going around that we were dragging it out, which was very unfair.

“David left himself wide open, because we had been negotiating a deal from the end of the season.

“David and I had worked constantly to try to get it over the line but it kept breaking down.

“There was other interest, which I kept informing the club about.

“They left it to the last minute and that left the chance to take a better deal.

“For me and Stephen, we made the right move.

“My conscience and the player’s conscience are totally clear.

“The chairman wasn’t happy, David Burke wasn’t happy.

“We were in Brighton to do the medical and sign that night, then they allowed a call to come in. They left themselves wide open.

“It was a Premier club who play decent football, a fantastic opportunity. Brighton can only have themselves to blame.

“My loyalty lies with my client, to do the best I can for him. Had they done their business earlier this wouldn’t have happened.”