POTTER: PLEASE GET JAB

Brighton boss urges players to have vaccination after losing a ‘young’ family member to Covid

BRIGHTON boss Graham Potter has urged players to get the vaccine after revealing his own family’s Covid “tragedy”.

Premier League clubs are still divided by players reluctant to get jabbed despite a rise in positive tests within football amid growing concerns over fans returning to full stadiums.

And Potter bravely spoke out about how a family member – his cousin’s 48-year-old unvaccinated husband, who was a father of two young children – died of Covid last week.

“I know that it’s dangerous, he was 48, not the same age as the players of course, but young with two young kids, so it’s tragic,” said Potter.

“So of course I would advise to get vaccinated, because I don’t want anybody else to go through that. But at the same time I also understand people will have concerns.

“And we have to respect those concerns and try to work with them, educate and help and make sure people come to a decision that feels right for them.

“It was obviously devastating to go through and witness, and tragic for the family, and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.

“It was last week, unfortunately. It was a quick illness, he responded badly to it and went downhill really quickly.”

The Premier League cannot force players to get vaccinated.

And they revealed 11 new positive cases this week, which was the highest since earlier in the year when the pandemic was at its height. But last week Newcastle manager Steve Bruce revealed the true extent of how keeper Karl Darlow (below) suffered, lost weight and ended up in hospital, as he spoke passionately about how every player should get jabbed. Fans are facing spot checks at grounds to see if they have either been jabbed or have taken a lateral flow test, while players are still expected to take a test twice a week.

The risks are higher in full stadiums, but top flight squads have been divided up and down the country with many players still having reservations about getting jabbed – and Potter admitted even his squad has concerns. He added: “It’s not unanimous. And it’s important that those concerns are addressed, or answered or communicated.

“I don’t think it’s right that we’re in this polarising situation where it’s black or white you need to have the jab or not – everybody has to be able to make a choice of course.

“Absolutely, it hasn’t gone away, we’re still living with it, still trying to work it out, and probably the reality is no one really knows for sure because we’ve never been through this before. It’s a new disease we’re all having to get our heads around.

“So we’re not out of it, it’s still going to be there, and we have to be careful, and make sure we adhere to all the safety protocols.

“And do our best to try to get back to normal, play football, and move the country forwards as best we can.”