I actually think there is something in this, maybe not Brighton but Poyet is acting with one eye on the future.
Gus thinks he is going to manage a very big club one day, and he would be very well placed to lure Suarez at that time. Being the only man backing him in the past wouldn't do that...
Basically I agree with this.
Even though I admire him being loyal to a mate (because that takes some guts too in current feeding frenzy), I think you could still say 'He knows he shouldn't have done this' and leave it there.