Chelsea board are split over Graham Potter’s future at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are at odds over manager Graham Potter’s future as the pressured manager enters a crucial period that could determine his future at the club.

Sportsmail understands Potter faces a battle to convince certain club figures that he has the power to reverse a disastrous streak of results that has left his future under a cloud.

Crucially, co-controlling owner Todd Boehly – widely recognized as the face of the new Chelsea regime – is among those most supportive of Potter behind the scenes and believes, for the time being at least, that a change of boss would put team development back.

Boehly heads a consortium that Chelsea bought alongside US investment firm Clearlake Capital for £4.25 billion last year.

The consortium led by Boehly also includes Swiss businessman Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter, co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Capital.

Chelsea are at odds over manager Graham Potter’s future as the pressured manager enters a crucial period

Crucially, co-controlling owner Todd Boehly is among those most supportive of Potter

Chelsea’s hierarchy approached Potter in September after conducting a 100-day review of the club following their takeover, believing the former Brighton boss to be the ideal candidate to replace Thomas Tuchel and lead their long-term project.

Boehly recognizes the difficulties created by a series of changes in the squad and overall operations of the club and believes Potter should be given more time.

However, this commitment to Potter is not a universal view at Stamford Bridge as doubts are raised from other quarters of the club.

Saturday’s win over Leeds will help ease the pressure on Potter ahead of Tuesday’s thrilling Champions League round of 16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund.

However, two negative results could put Potter at risk and heighten concerns about the former Brighton boss’ suitability after a run of two wins in 15 games.

Problems caused by the sheer size of the squad after the club spent almost £600m on new players were first revealed by Sportsmail this week and sources have since repeated those issues.

But there has been some skepticism about how Potter has handled some difficult moments this season, as the owners’ once unequivocal support for her first appointment as manager is now showing signs of faltering.

Two negative results against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund could put Potter in danger

Chelsea’s first-team squad has grown to 31 players after eight signings in January

There are also mixed feelings in the Chelsea squad. Potter is said to have made a positive impression tactically and personally when he arrived.

Whilst there is no point Potter having lost his players’ support or having them doubt him as a manager, concerns have arisen over the course of Chelsea’s season as to whether he has shown enough personality to halt the team’s relegation and make his mark Club and changing room.

Meanwhile, all the uncertainty surrounding the club has also had an impact on the performances.

Former Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique has already been touted as a potential replacement for Potter, but insiders have indicated there is no interest in the 52-year-old at this time.