Graham Potter has turned down the chance to speak to Leicester City about their vacant managerial position, ATLFMSPORTS understands.
Potter was relieved of his duties as Chelsea head coach on the same day that Brendan Rodgers’ four-year reign at relegation-threatened Leicester came to an end, little over six months after he succeeded Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa proved to be the final straw for Potter at Chelsea, with the defeat leaving the club in the bottom half of the Premier League table and five points behind Brighton in sixth – the club Potter upped sticks to leave in September.
A statement from Chelsea confirmed that Potter had ‘agreed to collaborate with the club to facilitate a smooth transition’, but he was quickly linked with the vacant role at Leicester after Rodgers’ tenure was ended earlier on Sunday after the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s dramatic late goal condemned the Foxes to a 17th defeat in their 28 Premier League outings – a result that leaves them 19th in the table and staring relegation firmly in the face.
But ATLFMSPORTS understands that Potter has rejected the opportunity to talk to Leicester about taking over, as he doesn’t feel ready to jump straight into another opportunity.
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Leicester had been hoping to hold talks with Potter and his representatives, but he will instead look to recharge his batteries before seeking a new challenge next season.
Potter’s rise to managerial prominence has been relatively swift, as it was just five years ago that he left Swedish side Ostersund to take over at Championship outfit Swansea City.
Brighton came calling a year later, prising him away on a four-year contract, and Potter’s superb work at developing young players, in addition to his tactical acumen and coaching methods, soon garnered widespread acclaim.
A ninth-place finish last season – Brighton’s best ever showing in the Premier League – and decent start to the 2022/23 campaign convinced Chelsea to hire Potter on a five-year deal, but his tenure lasted just 31 games in all competitions.
In that time, Potter won just 12 games (38.7%), drew eight and lost 11, despite being backed heavily in the January transfer market with signings such as Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix.
SOURCE: 90MINS
