Wrench to quit Pars for Black Cats: Potter

Chance to join Ross at Sunderland too good to turn down

It’s a big wrenchto leave...it’s theclubi support. JOHN POTTER

John Potter has confessed it was a massive wrench to leave Dunfermline but admits he could not turn down the chance to join Sunderland.

The 38-year-old has left his position as first-team coach at the Pars to join Jack Ross’s backroom team in the same post.

Potter was a team-mate of Ross at St Mirren and came close to joining him as assistant at the Buddies in 2016.

However, after many hours contemplating his future, the former Celtic and Clyde defender has decided to take up the opportunity of the switch to the Stadium of Light.

He said: “I know Jack really well and I spoke to him about St Mirren when he got the job there, and he said it was something he would be interested in doing.

“It’s just happened quite quickly in the last four or five days and it was a big decision. I just felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. It’s a big wrench to leave. It’s the club I support and I absolutely love my job here.

“I had a lot of chats with the manager [Allan Johnston]. He didn’t want me to go but he understood my position.”

Potter will relocate to the north-east of England with his family and knows there is pressure on to bring success to the Black Cats.

He added: “I’m married and I’ve got four wee boys. I live just round the corner and the grandparents are close, so it’s a big decision and I had to take that into account.

“We’ve spent many hours speaking about it.

“But it’s something we’re going to try as a family. We’re all going to move down and hopefully it goes well.

“There’s a lot more pressure in the job, it’s a massive club and we’ve got to try to win that league.”