Frank rules himself out of Brighton job – who are the front-runners to replace Potter?

Three leading contenders 

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has ruled himself out of the running to become the next head coach of Brighton, following Graham Potter’s record-breaking move to Chelsea this week. When asked about the links ahead of the weekend, Frank, who was linked with a move to the Falmer Stadium by the Independent and others, laughed off such rumours and quickly put them to rest. 

“No (I didn’t know),” Frank said when told by a reporter at a recent press conference that he was one of the favourites for the vacancy. “Chris (our press officer) just prepped me when I walked in the door, so now I know. But I’m very happy here at Brentford. A lot of unfinished business to do here. We have started the season well and big potential at the club, so that’s what my focus is and my focus is on the Southampton game.”

Brighton have been forced to act quickly, due to Chelsea’s impressive pursuit of Potter over the course of the past few days. The Stamford Bridge side’s former manager, Thomas Tuchel, was only relieved of his duties on September 7 and within the space of 24 hours the London club were announcing Potter as the man to take over in the German tactician’s place. 

Martin, Jones or Knutsen? The front-runners for the Brighton job

According to the Athletic, Brighton may be able to bounce back from losing their head coach in a typically smart and efficient manner. The publication claims that the Premier League side have been preparing for the departure of Potter since early 2020 and have a shortlist of potential successors to hand, featuring managers from within the UK and abroad. 

The front-runner currently seems to be Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen, who has delivered back-to-back domestic titles in his native top-flight for Glimt. The Athletic also claim that Brighton are looking at Luton Town manager and former Brighton defender Nathan Jones, who is currently plying his trade in the English Championship. 

The final contender is Brighton-born Swansea manager Russell Martin, who is currently performing admirably at the Welsh club, playing a similar style of football that won Potter such success at the club prior to his own move to Brighton. For now, the club’s first team operations will be conducted by under-21 coach Andrew Crofts, with assistant Shannon Ruth and midfielder Adam Lallana taking on a player-coaching role.  

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