York was never an option says Potter

Graham Potter says there was absolutely no way he would have been appointed the manager of former club York City and instead had to take an alternative route.

The 42-year-old has already received legendary status in Sweden having incredibly guided minnows Ostersunds FK from the fourth to the top division while also securing the national cup since being appointed in December 2010.

That brought them entry into the Europa League this season, where after famously accounting for Turkish giants Galatasaray, they eventually went out of the competition to Arsenal despite winning the second-leg at the Emirates in midweek.

“It’s not so easy to get the opportunities,” Potter told The Press. “That’s the reality of football, I suppose. I started off at York City coaching the under-13s and really enjoyed it. Then, I just tried to think about how I could improve as a coach and what I needed to do to get better and took the opportunity that came my way to do that.

“I couldn’t really rely on what I’d done as a player, because I wasn’t very good,” the former England Under-21 international added. “The truth is, when I stopped playing at 30 and went into coaching at youth and university level, I was never going to get the York City job because people want somebody with experience. I had to go a different pathway and, thankfully, it’s worked out well.”