Graham Potter drops Everton hint with ex-Chelsea boss on FA list for England job

Graham Potter has hinted he has no interest in taking over from Gareth Southgate as the next permanent England boss and would prefer to stay in club management.

Southgate stepped down as Three Lions manager following July’s agonising Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, bringing an end to a successful, albeit trophyless, eight-year reign.

Amongst the mooted replacements, which included a range of managers from current interim Lee Carsley to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Potter emerged as a possible candidate to take charge.

However, in a new tell-all interview with The Telegraph, Potter has revealed he’s more interested in the day-to-day hustle that club management brings about.

Speaking properly for the first time since being sacked by Chelsea over a year ago, Potter claimed: “I like the day-to-day and the building process of club management.

“International management is a different rhythm and there are pluses for that. It’s more intense when it’s on, but you’ve got a bit more breathing space in between.”

He continued: “It’s nothing that I’ve ruled out, but at the same time I do like the day-to-day bit of working with the players and being in at the club and trying to build and make a difference.

“Making a difference to people is why you do this. When you look back at the players you’ve helped in some way. That’s the most rewarding part.”

It could prove music to the ears of incoming Everton owners, the Friedkin Group, who are said to be on the verge of completing a majority 94 per cent stake takeover.

Sean Dyche is under pressure as head coach and while conditions at Goodison Park have been stacked against him, it’s hard to see a new ownership group sticking by the ex-Burnley man, should things continue to trend in the wrong direction.

While Potter’s work at Brighton came under entirely different circumstances, the challenge of restoring pride to Everton and dragging them back up the table could be one that appeals to the 49-year-old coach.

Potter guided Brighton to their at-the-time highest league finish in the Premier League, while becoming the first Seagulls manager ever to win away to Manchester United, doing so on the opening day of the 2022/23 season.

The former Southampton and West Bromwich Albion player was appointed as Chelsea boss in September 2022 but lasted just seven months in the job before being sacked.