"The crucial thing at the moment is that we have to keep Graham."
The words of Swansea City icon Alan Curtis just a matter of weeks ago.
Much of the talk following the conclusion of the 2018/19 campaign has been about how the Swans' squad will look next term, with the futures of Daniel James, Leroy Fer and Wayne Routledge among those to remain uncertain.
There's also been the situation of potential redundancies at the club.
But the real meaning behind Curtis' recent comments are well and truly starting to dawn on the Jack Army amid Brighton's interest in the Swansea manager.
Potter has endured two turbulent transfer windows since arriving in South Wales, with a total of 16 first-team stars departing last summer while three more left in January.
All the while, just six players have been brought in to the Liberty Stadium, none of whom arrived during the winter market.
Despite seeing the first-team squad picked apart, Potter successfully utilised the club's academy to his advantage and built a team that secured a 10th-place finish in the Championship as well as guiding the Swans to the last eight of the FA Cup.
And crucially, he has done it in a way that has got the fans fully on board.
After a number of difficult seasons in the top flight, the Swans hit the reset button when they appointed Potter just under a year ago.
Players, staff and fans are united under Potter and have all worked towards the same aim.
It's why the strong links to Brighton have come as such a crushing blow to the club, particularly given the work that has been done since the Solihull-born boss was appointed.
Hughton's sacking at Brighton came a year to the day that Swansea were relegated from the top flight after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke City.
The mood at the Liberty Stadium on that occasion was toxic, with fans venting their frustrations towards then chairman Huw Jenkins and the club's American owners.
Jenkins - along with Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien - felt the full wrath of the Jack Army at Millwall, the day after the loan window was shut last year.
And the same occurred at Bristol City in February, with Jenkins leaving the club just hours later.
Days before that 2-0 defeat to the Robins at Ashton Gate, Potter resembled a dejected figure when he was thrust in front of the cameras to preview the game.
Swansea were bracing themselves for the exits of Tom Carroll, Wilfried Bony and Jefferson Montero, while James and Fer also appeared destined to leave.
But Potter's comments on that occasion were telling.
"I’m very proud to be manager of this fantastic football club. The support I’ve had has been fantastic," he said.
"I’m not here to be a puppet for anybody. I spent months explaining to my son why he’s moved from Sweden to be here. My career means a lot to me and my family means a lot to me. I’m here to do the right thing for my family and for Swansea City.
"I knew it was going to be a challenge so I’ve got nothing to complain about. But it has been more difficult I would say."
Even in extreme adversity, Potter has been a credit to the football club.
But this looks to be crunch time for the manager, and the riches of the Premier League could turn out to be too tempting to refuse.
Swansea's parachute payments will drop this year, and there's still a black hole to be filled.
So what appears clear is that the ball now certainly seems to be in Potter's court.
Few would begrudge the Englishman if he chose to move on to pastures new.
He won't be given the luxury of having a bumper war chest to utilise at SA1 in the summer, so the club will have to give him assurances in another way, or simply hope Potter himself makes the call to remain at the club to continue the work he's already done.
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However, he has two years left on his deal with the Swans and could well decide to honour that agreement, even if he were to hold talks with the Seagulls.
And while he holds the aces at present, Potter has made it clear during the course of the campaign that he views Swansea as a project.
Players have fully bought in to his methods, and they would understandably be wary of what the future holds should he move on.
"If you see me play, I play with more courage and I'm enjoying it more," said Mike van der Hoorn on the current set-up.
And speaking after the loss to Nottingham Forest, Oli McBurnie said: "I love his way of thinking and his principles of football. I love everything about working under him and I don't have a bad word to say about him."
Would Swansea's current crop receive the same backing under a potential new boss that they have been afforded under Potter? Only time would tell.
As for the coaching set-up, that would most likely be drastically changed again if the unthinkable occurred.
Then there's the fans. They've made their feelings known in recent months with repeated chants of "Graham Potter's barmy army" and "You Jack b******".
Arguably for the first time in a number of years, they have a man at the helm that 'gets' the club.
A philosophy has been implemented, and it would be hugely difficult for that to be continued without any major hiccups in the event that Potter departed.
So the overriding feeling would undoubtedly be one of disappointment rather than anger should Brighton get their man.
It would feel as though a year of progression would count for precious little, and the reset button would need to be pressed once again.
Swansea are immensely fortunate to have someone of Curtis' ilk so strongly associated to the club, even after his retirement from coaching.
But the club icon was right to highlight the importance of retaining Potter's services.
He has been the most vital of cogs in this club's transformation. The glue binding everything together, so to speak.
And in Curtis - the man who has been there and bought every single T-shirt along the way - you won't find a more qualified endorsement of just how important Potter is to this football club.
