Out of work Graham Potter is planning a “continual process” of improvement as he eyes a return to management – just weeks after it was claimed a move to Rangers would get his juices flowing.
The manager has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in 2023 after a disappointing tenure at the Blues – having made the move to London after being a key figure in the project that led Brighton to the upper reaches of the Premier League. Since then, the 49-year-old has reportedly turned down the chance to step into the hot seat at Ajax, Lyon and is said to be “unconvinced” by Leicester City’s attempts to bring him in to replace Steve Cooper.
But the Englishman – who ex Three Lions goalkeeper Paul Robinson said he knew for a FACT Potter would be interested in the Ibrox gig – appears to be looking for his next move as he conceded he was hoping a club would take a punt on a manager who had “failed”. Speaking to the High Performance podcast, Potter reflected on his ill-fated stint at Stamford Bridge: “There is always going to be a chance that people write you off. It’s normal. Like I’m sure they wrote Eddie (Howe) off after he left Bournemouth, or they wrote Unai Emery off after he left Arsenal or whatever. I can’t worry about that. I’m not sitting here thinking I’m perfect.
“Ultimately there is three categories of coaches, there is the proven winner – my three promotions and my Swedish Cup aren’t going to put me in that category of winner – and there is the one that hasn’t failed yet. The shiny new one that wants to be the next Pep (Guardiola).
“Then you have got these coaches that have failed and have come back and used it positively. And hopefully there is still a market for that type of coach, it would be sad if there wasn’t.”
Host Jake Humpries went on to bring up speculation over a return to the game including the England manager’s job before the appointment of Thomas Tuchel. Potter went on: “You can’t control speculation. You are linked with this and linked with that.
“Like I said, I am just proud of the route that I have taken. It’s not easy to from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the last eight in the Champions League with Chelsea. But it’s a continual process. I will try and improve and that has been the same since day one and I’d like to think it’s the same mindset.”
The comments come after former England international Robinson claimed to know for a fact that Potter would be interested in becoming Rangers manager. The former Leeds, Tottenham, Blackburn and Burnley goalkeeper: “Rangers Football Club is a massive attraction for a manager to take over.
“Managers don’t pick up jobs while teams are doing well. Going into Rangers now with the task to turn them around wouldn’t take a lot. There’s absolutely no doubt they can attract a big name like Potter, and he would be attracted by such a huge job. I know that for a fact.”
So, could the project at Rangers tempt Potter with the club in the midst of a massive overhaul and fan fury rising at Philippe Clement? Incoming CEO Patrick Stewart might have to convince the board to spend big if they were to attempt the ambitious appointment.