Simon Jordan believes Brighton and Hove Albion should be looking to raid Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest for Steve Cooper with Graham Potter set to be unveiled at Chelsea, speaking to talkSPORT (8 September, 12pm).
The phrase ‘victims of your own success’ comes to mind.
After six games, Brighton are sitting pretty in the Champions League positions. Two points off the top. And two places ahead of a Chelsea side who sacked Thomas Tuchel following defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
And, while a wonderfully well-drilled Seagulls side do not appear to have hit their ceiling just yet – Sunday’s 5-2 shellacking of Leicester City was arguably their finest top-flight performance to date – the lure of Chelsea is something Graham Potter appears unable to resist.
It’s not often English managers receive an opportunity at one of Europe’s biggest and best, after all.
But how do Brighton go about replacing a man who, after replacing Chris Hughton in 2019, has transformed this previously unfashionable, somewhat-physical outfit into a team capable of outplaying almost anyone in the division?
Who will replace Chelsea-bound Graham Potter at Brighton and Hove Albion?
“Where would I go? I look into the Championship, I can’t see anyone in there,” muses Simon Jordan, the straight-talking former Crystal Palace owner.
“I hate to say it but, if I was Brighton, I’d be knocking on Nottingham Forest’s door. Absolutely. Wouldn’t get very far with it, possibly, but that’s the sort of situation you’re looking (at).”
There are certainly some similarities between Potter and Steve Cooper. Two homegrown tacticians who made their name in the Championship with a free-flowing, very modern style of play. Cooper is yet to sign a contract extension at the City Ground. That is despite the fact his current deal has less than a year to run.
But, after investing over £150 million in 22 new players during a hectic and unprecedented summer, there are clearly plenty of chapters remaining in Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest story. One he will hope has a happy ending.
Former Brighton captain Bruno was expected to be placed in temporary charge at the Amex. It has been confirmed, however, that he will be following Potter to Stamford Bridge instead.
“Head coach Graham Potter is leaving after deciding to join Chelsea,” reads a statement on Brighton’s Twitter. “Also departing as his assistant Billy Reid, first-team coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno, goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts and head of recruimtent Kyle Macauley.
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