Graham Potter has hailed Brighton & Hove Albion as “great” in a farewell letter to the club’s fans following his departure.
Potter departed the club on Thursday (8 September) to take up a new role as Head Coach at Chelsea following Thomas Tuchel’s sacking a day earlier.
Potter has however decided to pen a farewell letter to Brighton supporters as described his time at the club as life-changing, as he wrote:
‘This has been three wonderful years with a club that has changed my life, and I want to take a moment to say goodbye to all of you who have made it such a special period of my career.
I bid farewell to a great club and one that will always mean so much to me and my family.’
Potter though took a moment to recognise that not everyone would welcome his decision to leave Brighton for Chelsea and that change can be tough to digest and accept, as he continued: ‘For some I recognise that the change that comes so suddenly in football can be hard to accept.
‘I may not be able to persuade you all to forgive my departure – but I would at least like to take the chance to say thank you.’
Potter also acknowledged the importance of how ‘good clubs need great owners and great fans’ as he iterated that Brighton has both aspects as he vowed to ‘cherish the relationships I built in all aspects of the club.
‘My players went above and beyond. My staff gave everything. At the heart of it were the Albion fans.
‘On every matchday at the Amex, the connection with the team was strong. When we played away you came in your thousands to roar us on. I know what you have been through to see your club finally in a modern stadium and thriving in the Premier League. I felt it every time I stood on the touchline.’
Connection with supporters however can come in many ways from stopping for a chat when out-and-about in the city or just anywhere in general or via written communication of ‘personal stories’, of which Potter revealed ‘meant a great deal’ to him in understanding the club’s meaning to fans.
He though pleaded for fans to ‘understand’ that at the current stage of his managerial career, he ‘had to grasp a new opportunity.’
Potter proceeded to thank Owner and Chairman, Tony Bloom for entrusting him as manager in the summer of 2019, complete with ‘unswerving support’ as the club progressed up the Premier League and finished ninth last season.
Paying full credit to the club as a whole, Potter wrote: ‘Brighton & Hove Albion is a club full of good people who work together in the right way to accomplish things.’
Potter then reflected on various highs experienced during his reign from home wins over Tottenham and Arsenal in his first season, to thrashing Manchester United and West Ham at home last season to finish ninth with a club-record points haul and league finish in ‘great memories.’
The 47 year-old though believes that Brighton has helped shape his development as a human and manager, as he said: ‘The Albion has given me that and more. I feel I am a better person and a better manager for the experiences I have had here.
‘Not every team selection or decision has been perfect. But the club has created an environment that gives you the scope to make mistakes, learn from them and then improve. I have always tried to act with integrity and be a good person. These are values I hold dear, and I know that the Albion do too.’
Potter’s reign at Brighton ended on a high last weekend with a comeback 5-2 victory over Leicester but he felt that it marked ‘a good way to end’ his reign at the club, despite not knowing that it would of been his last match in charge of the club as he praised his players’ performance.
Potter however admitted that it was difficult to wave goodbye to the club in ‘an unexpected whirlwind’ over recent days, as he described leaving the training ground as ‘a poignant moment’ for him and his coaching staff.
Allaying any fears of fans, Potter moved to insist that Brighton are ‘in safe hands’ and even addressed whoever his successor will be, as he added: ‘To my successor, whoever that may be, I would say, congratulations.
‘You’ll be working for a great club with a fantastic squad, supported by a great chairman and board. The squad are playing at a high level and will get better. Most of all, the supporters will get behind the team home and away.’
Concluding his farewell letter, Potter simply commented: ‘To everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion: thank you. It has been a pleasure and honour to serve the club over the last three years. I wish you every success going forward.’
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