Graham Potter has revealed his family promise not to fear the sack as a manager or head coach.

The Albion boss enjoys solid backing from his bosses as he aims to keep the club up while also preparing them for a bright future.

But he admits he feels the pressure as the Seagulls battle to stay in the Premier League.

Potter says he will remain "brave" in what might be - but don't necessarily have to be - worrying weeks ahead.

The Seagulls remain out of the bottom three as they go into one of two games in hand over rivals Fulham today.

They take on Southampton at St Mary’s still above the Cottagers, who went down 3-0 to leaders Manchester City last night.

Potter fully appreciates the gravity of the situation.

But he said he cannot be fearful – and that goes back to when he took his first job at Swedish minnows Ostersunds.

Potter said: “The pressure isn’t for my own personal situation, it’s more for the responsibility you have to the team and the club.

“I made a promise to myself and my family when I started this job back in Ostersund, when we left England, that you can’t fear the sack.

“You can’t be fearful of losing your job as a football manager because then I don’t think you make the right decisions, I don’t think you approach it in the right way.

“I think you’ve got to understand that, as I’ve said before, chairmen, boards, owners, have a huge responsibility because they are responsible for the club.

“So whatever decisions they make, you’ve got to respect it. I’ve always thought like that.

“My job is to do my best. But that doesn’t mean you don’t feel pressure, you don’t feel the responsibility, you don’t feel that strain.

“There are people you care about in the club that you want to do better for and help, so that’s where the pressure is."

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The tone of some questions Potter was asked at his weekly press conference underlined the vulnerable league position in which Albion now find themselves.

But he spelt out the mentality he believes can see him and his team through.

He added: “You have to do what you think is right. You have to make decisions for the good of the team and the club, not for yourself. You’ve got to be brave in those moments.

“If you are those, then it gives you the best chance to make the right decision.”

Potter typically looks composed on the touchline as his side go through emotional extremes.

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He said: “There’s a time to be calm, there’s a time to be emotional, there’s a time to be angry, there’s a time to be frustrated.

“We’re all feeling those things, we’re human beings.

“We can’t be calm all the time, because that’s not going to help us. We have to be angry, frustrated, annoyed at the right time in the right moment that gives us the right response to help us get points to win matches.

“That’s the trick with leadership and management and football coaching.”

He added:  “I certainly feel the support of the hierarchy of the club.

"I am fortunate I have a fantastic chairman. Tony Bloom is amazing. Paul (Barber), Dan (Ashworth) and the board. I have no complaints whatsoever.

“I also know it’s football and these guys have a huge responsibility, and they have to do what they think is the right thing.

“The most important thing is the club and, in my position, you have to understand and respect that.

“I have nothing to complain about at all. The chairman has done amazing things for this club and I trust him one million per cent - so whatever he thinks is right for the club is fine by me. That’s where it is.”

Potter was asked whether he was an unlucky manager given the way the season has gone.

He replied: “You have to keep things in perspective of the world's population, how many people would want to change places with me? I think quite a large percentage of the planet would fancy sitting in this chair, and I can't say that's all down to my fantastic ability.

“I look at my family, my friends, the people I have in my life and working at a fantastic club surrounded by top people. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself.

“This is sport at the highest level, and you can't have it both ways. How many years has this club been in this league?

“You can't play at this level and pretend there aren't moments when you're going to suffer.

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“As bad as it feels – and believe me, it does feel bad – you have to accept it and the only truth we have is to recover ourselves by the time the next matchday comes around so we are ready, we're positive and we're fighting.”