Graham Potter has reportedly rejected the chance to return to management in France.

Potter, who was sacked by Chelsea in April, was said to be a contender to replace current Lyon boss Laurent Blanc, who is under mounting pressure with the team at the foot of the Ligue 1 table heading into the international break.

According to The Athletic, Potter was identified as the top candidate to succeed Blanc by the club’s owner, John Textor. The former Brighton and Swansea reportedly saw the role as an ‘appealing opportunity’ before deciding it wasn’t the right time to return to the dugout.

It remains to be seen whether Blanc will still be in charge when Lyon return to action at home to Le Harve on September 17. But it seems plans are being made for the French legend’s exit.

READ MORE: Furious Lyon ultras hammer players in microphone rant on pitch after PSG nightmare

Following last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the Lyon players were given a dressing down by their own fans. As the players approached the end where the Les Bad Gones ultras are situated, one of the group’s leading figures used a megaphone to berate them.

According to TNT Sports, he said: "To you, the Olympique Lyonnais 2023-2024 squad, this message is addressed to you, to some of you already, to those who assume the status of dressing-room leaders.

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"The message is clear: if there are leaders in this dressing room, they no longer have the right to remain silent. You're wearing the Olympique Lyonnais jersey. You're the ones who wear the OL jersey.

"Others before you have worn it, glorified it. You don't have the right to tarnish it. Now that the transfer window is over, the squad is here. All we ask is to be by your side. But to do that, you're going to have to earn it.

"We love and respect this shirt. There's only one other thing we ask: to sing your names. Sing them with love, not like we sang the names of the little ******* who have left our club in the last six months.

"We want to sing your names with respect, with love. Because we know you play with love. But we expect you guys to respect our jersey, to pull yourselves up by your bootstraps on the pitch, and if we have to take pills, to do so with our heads held high. Go OL."

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