BOSSES A BRIT OF ALL RIGHT

PAUL BROWN

BY

GRAHAM POTTER says the appointment of Steven Gerrard at Villa Park is good for English football.

With former Villa boss Dean Smith stepping quickly back into top-flight management at Norwich, the Premier League has gained another home-grown manager.

And Brighton boss Potter says that is good both for the Premier League and for the England side. “You have to respect that the Premier League is a global business and brand,” he said. “People from all over the world have a stake. “They can employ whoever they want, from all over the world, regardless of passport. That’s the effect of globalisation.

“But of course, from an English perspective, it’s good if there are

English people playing at the highest level and managing at the highest level.” Potter (left) says Gerrard is an addition to the list of potential future England managers. “Gareth

Southgate has done fantastically well and I hope he stays in the England job for a long time,” he said.

“But the more good candidates you have when a job becomes available, the better it is because you have more people to choose from.”

Potter is a rising star himself, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once famously describing him as the best English manager around.

But although Brighton have earned praise for climbing to seventh this season, it has been two months since their last win in the Premier League.

Potter refuses to talk himself up as an England candidate just yet.

He said: “If you’re looking at international football and you’re an Englishman, then of course it’s the pinnacle. The England job is a fantastic job and Gareth has done an amazing job.

“But my focus is on Brighton. I would be very foolish to think of anything other than that because in six months the table might look a lot different.

“That’s how it is. I am not bothered about praise because I know the way the narrative changes.”