Tony Cottee Suggests Graham Potter as Potential Lopetegui Successor at West Ham

Former West Ham player Tony Cottee has identified Graham Potter as a suitable candidate to succeed Julen Lopetegui, should the latter depart from the Hammers. Cottee shared his views during an upcoming episode of BBC Sounds’ Sacked In The Morning podcast, scheduled to air next week. Cottee stated: “I think the one that stands out at the moment who’s free and not with a club would probably be Graham Potter.” He elaborated on his preference for a British manager for West Ham, remarking: “I think most of the West Ham fans would prefer a British manager. I’m not saying foreign managers aren’t good. I just think for the type of club West Ham is, I think the British manager would probably be good along the lines of David Moyes, etc.” Cottee further commented on Potter’s availability and his skepticism regarding the club’s board: “He’s not at a club at the moment, so I’m sure he should be high on the list. But knowing the West Ham board, they’ll probably appoint someone I’ve absolutely never heard of and I’ll be scratching my head again and going, oh, here we go.” He then cautioned the club about the rapid pace of the Premier League: “But they’ve got to be careful because time goes very quickly in the Premier League and the games are thick and fast and West Ham have got some tough games coming up over the next three to four weeks into the new year.” Cottee warned of the potential for a relegation battle: “If you’re not careful, you get dragged into a relegation battle of some sort and it’s very, very difficult to get out of it and it’s important they stay above that.” Concluding his advice, he urged prompt and judicious decision-making: “So I think, you know, if they’re going to make the decision, make it quickly. But just try and get the right fella in to manage the club because you’ve got to keep above that relegation zone.”