Ex-Premier League boss 'open to anything' as he explains reportedly shooting down Rangers
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When Michael Beale left Rangers in October last year, ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter was one of the first names on the lips of Ibrox supporters.
Graham Potter, 49, had just a tumultuous seven month stint at Stamford Bridge a few months earlier and was perhaps the most high-profile name doing the rounds.
But quick as a flash, the ex-Brighton and Ostersund manager got his representatives to shut down the links to Ibrox and distance himself from the manager's job.
Potter made clear early on he wouldn't take the Rangers gig and the Ibrox side eventually went on to stump for Philippe Clement over the likes of Frank Lampard and Kevin Muscat.
Graham Potter explains 20-month manager hiatus
Still without a top job almost 20 months on from leaving Chelsea, Potter has been speaking to the High Performance Podcast about his situation.
In doing so, the Rangers-linked gaffer also appeared to explain why links to Ibrox never interested him, with the coach taking a sabbatical to focus on his private life.
That's despite the internal urge to get our there and prove his doubters wrong.
"I think of myself now I have got loads more energy, perspective, had the chance off the wheel, tried to connect with some family, connect with some friends, put my life more in balance," said Potter.
"I am a better version of myself now than when someone was paying £20m for us.
"But life is life and you have to try and do these things and it didn't work and it didn't happen but definitely I feel like 100% better.
"I think it's what I needed. People say 'you've been out, you've been out'. It would've been a mistake for me to go straight back in.
"Even though my ego was wanting to go back in and wanting to go and prove and all that stuff, I'm like 'nah, I need to make sure the next 10 years, the next 12 years, the next 15 years is how I want it to be'."
Rangers-linked manager 'open to anything'
Whilst Graham Potter didn't go into details, the ex-Chelsea boss did admit that he has had managerial offers.
Amongst these could include the likes of Lyon in Ligue 1, with Potter reportedly turning down the gig last season.
At this very moment, reports have suggested that Graham Potter is not interested in taking the Leicester City job which has just been vacated by Steve Cooper.
The talk with the High Performance Podcast comes at an interesting time for Rangers too, with the pressure rising on Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
Legendary England goalkeeper has previously claimed that he 'knows for a fact' Potter would be interested in the gig at Rangers.
But whilst there was no mention of the Gers from the manager himself, Potter admits he's 'open to anything' in football management.
"I have (turned down job offers)," confirmed Potter. "Things haven't been right, I've not been ready.
"(What right looks like now) is the exciting bit. I've had the fortune of having a long managerial career at different levels in different countries.
"The Premier League with Brighton who I think are one of the best run football clubs in the Premier League.
"And then I had this amazing, crazy, intense experience at Chelsea, so now I'm just open to anything. I'm not shutting my doors to anything.
"I think I have to connect with the idea of what the club wants and what the people want at the club and whether it aligns with my values and what I bring and the person I am is the person they want to work with. It has to be both."
