Graham Potter
Graham Potter

Brighton manager: Seagulls name Graham Potter as the club's new manager to replace Chris Hughton at the Amex Stadium


Brighton have announced former Swansea boss Graham Potter as their new manager to replace Chris Hughton.

Swansea had offered Potter a new contract in an attempt to ward off interest from the Seagulls, who sacked Hughton following the end of the Premier League season.

However, after the Championship side initially rejected Brighton's approach, former Ostersund boss Potter decided he wanted to move to the Premier League and take charge on the south coast.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom had wanted to appoint a new manager as quickly as possible to aid pre-season planning ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Potter, whose turned 44 on Monday, had two years left on his current deal at the Liberty Stadium.

Appointed last summer, Potter guided the Swans to a 10th-place finish in the Championship last season.

Potter was credited with playing an attractive brand of football, even though financial constraints at the Welsh club saw him lose 16 first-team squad members.

Brighton will be hoping Potter, who won three promotions with Ostersund and steered them into the Europa League, can help move the south-coast club forwards.

Under Hughton, the Seagulls managed just two wins from their 18 league matches after the turn of the year and finished 17th, only two points clear of Cardiff in the final relegation place.

Potter is expected to bring Billy Reid, Bjorn Hamberg and Kyle Macaulay to Brighton as part of his backroom staff.

Veteran Brighton striker Glenn Murray expects Potter to look to make his mark at the Amex Stadium.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, where he was working as a pundit, Murray was asked for his views on the expected appointment.

"He won't have taken the job on a whim, he would have looked at the players and done his homework on the players," the 35-year-old said.

"He has obviously spoke to the club on who he can bring in and what his budget is and things, I am sure he has a great idea of what philosophy we are going to play and if his philosophy will be immediate or a transition into his philosophy, we will wait and see."


Premier League top-half finish 2019/20 (odds via Sky Bet)

  • Southampton - 11/4
  • Watford - 11/4
  • Newcastle - 7/2
  • Bournemouth - 4/1
  • Brighton - 11/2
  • Burnley - 6/1
  • Norwich - 9/1
  • Sheffield United - 10/1

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