Graham Potter does not want Everton manager role
Graham Potter is very happy at Brighton and does not want to replace Rafael Benitez at Everton, according to Sky Sports News.
The channel reported live on Sunday night that one of the key reported candidates (Sky Sports) for the newly-vacated role had taken himself out of the running.
The view was subsequently backed up by The Athletic’s Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor, who classified the idea as a “non-starter”.
In a post on his personal twitter account he wrote: “Cannot see any way he’d give up what he has at Brighton for the mess at Goodison.
“The only way in which it would be a step up is spending power.”
Unattractive position
For all Everton’s historical significance and ever-presence in the Premier League, in their current situation it probably is true that Brighton is a more attractive job.
The former Swansea City boss is half way through his third season on the South coast and looks to have put things together after two finishes just outside the relegation zone.
The English manager has a reputation for being a strong tactician and has the Seagulls in the top half of the Premier League, currently sitting ninth.
And while it is true that the relative sizes of the two clubs would give him the chance to spend on higher quality players at Goodison, the recent transfer record on Merseyside does not fill many observers with great confidence.
The fact that Benitez is the fifth manager sacked under owner Farhad Moshiri makes it unlikely that many candidates will see long-term prospects in the job, especially considering the five deposed names cover a significant range of styles and backgrounds.
Sacking managers so frequently is not a particularly sustainable model for any club, but while the likes of Chelsea just about make it work but continuing to pick up trophies, the lack of silverware at Goodison just makes it look like an unstable set up.
While the atmosphere among fans will probably lift slightly now that the former Liverpool boss has left, the dreadful form on the pitch that saw the defeat to lowly Norwich City become the last straw will have to improve too.
In other Everton news, this former England star is reportedly on the shortlist to replace Benitez.