https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
potter-its-a-key-part-of-success-in-the-future
Potter: It's a key part of success in the future
29 Oct 2022
The transfer window is closed but Chelsea have been recruiting staff to
our technical team in recent days. Head coach Graham Potter has spoken for
the first time about the new people who will be part of the operation.
https://i.imgur.com/ZQFwKDo.jpg
Joe Shields is joining from Southampton as co-director of recruitment and
talent, and Laurence Stewart will be joining in a new position as
technical director to focus on football globally.
'Essentially it's a collaborative approach,' Potter explains. 'My job as
head coach is to support that process but it's the early stages. I think
we're still appointing and getting everything organised but I'm really
excited.
'It's a key part of how we can be successful because you can have all the
resources in the world but if they're not aligned, you can waste a lot of
money in this league. So that's an important part of our future and how we
want to try to develop.'
The first opportunity for player recruitment will be at the start of the
new year and that is a prospect Potter also shares his thoughts on.
'You have to look at January as a complicated window. As we get closer to
it we will sit down and discuss strategy and options. With my job as head
coach, we've just had nine matches in October and six away ones, so the
focus is on preparing the team and helping the players that are here.
https://i.imgur.com/ADoB5FW.jpg
Potter issues instructions at Brentford, one of our recent away games
'Thankfully, we've got a good recruitment department emerging so that they
can focus on that and my job can be to help the team but also support that
area as well.'
Turning the recruitment conversation clock back to the final few weeks of
his time at Brighton, Potter talks about two young players he took there
from Chelsea – midfielder Billy Gilmour on a permanent transfer and
defender Levi Colwill on loan. Gilmour is yet to start a match for
Brighton while Colwill, who is ineligible to play against the Blues this
weekend, has made two substitute appearances.
Potter says it is not certain they would have enjoyed more minutes had he
remained as the Seagulls' manager.
'That's because the team was doing well, the team was fourth, and Webster,
Dunk and Veltman are three very good players and Levi would have to battle
to get into there, and Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo are two big
players so Billy would as well.
https://i.imgur.com/1oCxAcJ.jpg
Colwill getting warmed up at Old Trafford
'I think both knew their role but clearly the timing of me leaving was not
great for them but it's part of life. It's not something I should say
sorry for but I acknowledge that it isn't great from their perspective,
the timing is not ideal.
'But in life sometimes these opportunities come up and they come up at a
time that isn't ideal. They're both good young players with a bright
future and at a good club with good people that look after them. We'll see
how they go.'