‘I don’t get it’: Paul Ince is bewildered why Chelsea decided to sack Graham Potter

Paul Ince has called for managers to be given ‘more protection’ by the Premier League after Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers both lost their jobs at Chelsea and Leicester respectively over the weekend.

Potter was dismissed after Chelsea suffered a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, while Rodgers was sacked following Crystal Palace‘s comeback win over Leicester.

Ince , who is currently in charge of Championship outfit Reading, questioned Chelsea’s decision to terminate Potter’s contract ahead of a Champions League quarter-final clash against holders Real Madrid on April 12.

Chelsea have appointed previous assistant coach Bruno Saltor on an interim basis, but he revealed that his feelings that Potter was doing a ‘fantastic job’ in charge of the Blues.

‘I get they lost to Villa but the most important thing for Chelsea is the Champions League which they have a chance in, Ince told Sporting Post.

Brendan Rodgers (pictured) was also sacked by Leicester City on the same weekend as Potter

‘Potter has been a part of that, so why would you relieve him of his duties? I don’t get it. It’s another English manager who has left his job when I felt he should’ve been given a lot more time than he was.

‘I have always had this thing that players get protected, but there is no protection for managers. I think there should be more protection for managers and they should only be allowed to be sacked and brought in at certain times, like the transfer window for players,’ he added.

Ince admitted his calls for new rules to be introduced to prevent a hire-and-fire manager culture are based around the impact that constantly changing jobs has on a manager’s family.

The former Manchester United and Liverpool star further defended Potter for taking the job in the first place as he admitted the lure of managing at Stamford Bridge was ‘something he couldn’t turn down’.

‘It’s not just about the individual managing the club, it’s also about moving your family around, finding schools, nurseries, and then you can just lose your job in seven months,’ said Ince.

Ince questioned Chelsea’s decision to sack Potter amid a successful Champions League run

Ince demanded that managers be given more protection to prevent multiple firings throughout a season

Potter was relinquished of his duties at Stamford Bridge on Sunday after a weekend defeat to Aston Villa

‘I get that is part of being a manager, but there has to be more protection.

‘Looking at it now, a lot of Chelsea players will be shocked by the timing of it. It was a great opportunity for Potter, it’s something he couldn’t turn down. 

‘I remember going to Blackburn when they were in the Premier League and thinking if may be too soon for me 

‘I hadn’t earnt my stripes yet and I’d just gone from Macclesfield to MK Dons so I wasn’t really ready for that but you can’t turn it down and I think it’s similar with Potter,’ he added.