Albion have only themselves to blame for missing out on the permanent capture of Stephen Ward, according to the player's agent.

Scott Fisher claims the Seagulls left themselves "wide open" to Burnley hijacking the deal when Ward was on the brink of signing.

Albion go to Wolves on Saturday with Sami Hyypia facing a dilemma who to play in the left-back role occupied by Ward throughout last season on loan from Wanderers.

The Seagulls reached the play-offs with the Republic of Ireland international in the back four and Ward was Hyypia's first choice option for the position after the Finn succeeded Oscar Garcia in June.

Ward was on his way down to the South Coast to sign in mid-August, five days after the start of the season, when Burnley hijacked the move.

The Premier League newcomers offered Wolves a much bigger fee, Ward much higher wages and a longer contract.

Fisher, who negotiated throughout the summer with Albion's head of football David Burke, believes his player was unfairly criticised by fans for the U-turn.

Fisher told The Argus: "Brighton is a wonderful club, David Burke and the chairman (Tony Bloom) are wonderful guys, 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 and he (Ward) had been on loan for a 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.

"They are really nice people. This has probably tarnished our relationship but my loyalty lies with my client, to do the best I can for him.

"We really tried our best to make Stephen Ward a permanent Brighton player. Had they done their business earlier this wouldn't have happened."

A broken ankle has sidelined Ward from Burnley's fight for Premier League survival.

Hyypia, meanwhile, has to decide whether to stick with Adam Chicksen or recall Joe Bennett at left-back at Molineux as Albion try to haul themselves out of the Championship relegation zone.

Chicksen was called back a day early from a loan spell at Gillingham to play in last Friday's 1-0 home defeat by Millwall.

Bennett, borrowed from Aston Villa for the season once Ward's move fell through, was left out of the squad as Hyypia juggles with the six loan signings on the books.

Regulations only permit Hyypia to field five of them in the matchday squad.

Albion declined to comment on the claims made by Fisher.