Eighteen months after his dismissal from Stamford Bridge, Graham Potter is still collecting a monumental paycheck from Chelsea, a costly symbol of the club's turbulent new era under Todd Boehly.
The former Brighton manager, who was sensationally axed in April 2023 after a dismal run of form, remains on the Chelsea payroll. His original five-year contract, worth a reported £13 million per annum, means the club's American ownership is still footing the bill for what has been widely deemed a failed experiment.
The Staggering Cost of Failure
This ongoing financial commitment highlights the immense cost of instability at the top level of football. Potter's payoff is one of the largest in Premier League history, a lingering financial drain on the club as they navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
His tenure, which lasted just 31 games, became a case study in a misfitting appointment. Despite being hand-picked by Boehly after the controversial sacking of Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel, Potter struggled to impose his philosophy or win over a sceptical fanbase.
A Lingering Shadow Over Boehly's Project
The continued payments serve as an undeniable reminder of the early missteps in the Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime. The decision to award such a long and lucrative contract to a manager unproven at an elite club has proven to be a spectacularly expensive error.
While current manager Mauricio Pochettino (and now Enzo Maresca) attempts to steer the club forward, the financial ghost of Potter's past continues to walk the halls of Cobham. It underscores the brutal economics of modern football, where even failure comes with a golden parachute, paid for by the club's future.
