Swansea City manager Graham Potter laughs off Celtic speculation

By David Walton

April 18, 2019

Swansea City manager Graham Potter has laughed off speculation regarding a move to Celtic.

Potter has only been in charge of the Welsh outfit since June 2018. He arrived from Ostersunds, where he managed two successive promotions as well as progression to the Europa League last-32 for the first time in their history.

His achievements in management have been impressive overall. His current Swansea side reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this season, but they sit as low as 13th in the Championship.

Graham Potter is a name in the frame (Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

The Englishman has been linked as a potential contender for the Celtic role. But, speaking to the BBC, Potter dismissed the link after speaking with Rangers-supporting players.

“It’s just speculation from you guys in the media.

“I had a bit of a laugh about it with Oli McBurnie and George Byers as Rangers supporters, but apart from that there’s nothing in it as far as I am concerned.”

Nothing in it from either side

So Potter hasn’t received any contact from Celtic apparently. Combine that with the fact that Dermot Desmond has already told Neil Lennon that any speculation is “nonsense”, and it’s probably easy to dismiss this one.

It seems to be a different candidate by the day. Potter, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Martinez, Willy Sagnol – the list feels endless at the moment.

Hopefully, this means that Celtic are casting their net far and wide. Communications may not have opened between the club and other candidates, but a shortlist could very well be being made for all we know.

Potter has spoken to Rangers fan Oliver McBurnie about the speculation (Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

Potter is a young, progressive candidate. He’s done well in both Sweden and England so far, although he’s still to make the same waves in the UK that he did with Ostersunds.

But it’s difficult to go with any idea that he would be an overly popular appointment. When names such as Villas-Boas and Martinez are listed, excitement levels will naturally grow.

It doesn’t seem as though Potter is too interested in discussing much. Reassuring his Rangers mates means next to nothing though. If Celtic did come in for him, he would have a big decision to make. At the moment, however, it looks a long way from that.