BRIGHTON ROCKER POTTER
Seagulls legend Booker: It’s great seeing Graham’s passion ... that’s why clubs want him
BRIGHTON fans should be seriously grateful Graham Potter is installed as their manager – long-term.
For, rest assured, there would be a whole clutch of rival outfits chasing the Seagulls supremo, who has another four years to run on his deal, were he suddenly on the market.
The message to Potter doubters comes from
Albion favourite Bob
Booker (right), who spent six years in the south coast club’s dugout from
2000 to 2006.
Now a regular matchday ambassador, Booker was as surprised as anyone last month when Potter hit out at some home fans booing the team following a 0-0 draw with Leeds.
However, the former Brighton assistant manager, who had two spells as caretaker boss, enjoyed that rare show of public emotion from Potter – and was fully supportive of his stance. Booker, 63, said: “I have been in Graham’s shoes, standing on the touchline when things aren’t going well – and you just get in the neck. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the business.
“So, it was great to see him let out a bit of passion and put his point forward. He’s normally so calm. I can’t imagine he’s one to throw teacups around.
“We know football is a results game.
“Whether Graham Potter or Jose Mourinho, if you’re near the bottom, not winning games, we know what will happen next in the modern game.
“Everyone said, ‘Blimey, he’s on a six-year contract’ – but the club have stuck by him because they have a plan and believe in him. If Graham was available tomorrow there’d be loads of clubs wanting to snap him up.
“Fans are entitled to their opinion but I speak to some of the players and they are just so into Graham, the way he is doing things, and his technical and tactical side.
“He respects the players and they respect him and buy into what he’s doing – and that’s half of the battle as a manager.”
Of course, part of the negative reaction from the stands was following on from Brighton’s best-ever start to a top-flight season.
The Seagulls were riding high in the top four in October before a big dip.
They are 11 games without a win, albeit with eight draws, and down to 13th.
Booker gets the disappointment – just as he gets how fortunate Amex regulars are to be witnessing entertaining, purist football under ex-swansea coach Potter.
The former Brentford and Sheffield United forward added: “When we were fourth, I said there’d be a stumble at some
stage. But the fact is we haven’t been losing many games.
“We’re in a good position at Christmas. Yes, we’d like a couple of wins to boost us again but they’ll come.
“It’s been a very good season with some really attractive football.
“The team is so technically gifted.’’
All a far cry from his own days at the club’s previous Withdean home when they were in the lower leagues fighting for survival – on and off the pitch.
Another reason, then, to be thankful for the present era. “Withdean was falling apart, it was a dump, even if it was our dump,” recalled Booker, who is a driving instructor in the area.
“We had to move and that happened with Tony Bloom taking over as owner. We’ve come so far as a club since then. It’s brilliant.”