Billy Gilmour is struggling to make an impression at Brighton (Picture: Getty Images)
Graham Potter admits that his departure from Brighton ‘was not great’ for young talents Billy Gilmour and Levi Colwill but says it is not something that he has to apologise for.
Both youngsters arrived at Brighton from Chelsea over the summer, Gilmour signing permanently while Colwill has moved on loan, but Potter went the opposite way shortly after.
Neither player has started a Premier League match for the Seagulls yet, with Gilmour coming off the bench three times and Colwill just twice.
Brighton and Chelsea meet on Saturday, so Colwill will be ineligible to play while Gilmour will be desperate for a chance to show what he can do against his former club.
Potter says that his move to Stamford Bridge has certainly not helped the development of the young stars, but says it is all part of life in football and believes they remain in a good place to flourish.
On why Gilmour and Colwill have not been playing, Potter said: ‘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.
‘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.’
MORE : Patrice Evra’s Premier League predictions including Brighton vs Chelsea & Liverpool vs Leeds Utd
MORE : Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes opens up on his future amid Chelsea and Real Madrid transfer links
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
‘It’s not something I should say sorry for.’