Graham Potter can have more influence in empty stadia

Premier League clubs are preparing to follow the Bundesliga by resuming league fixtures behind closed doors.

Television viewers saw teams such as Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin impress yesterday – with no fans to cheer them.

It is a whole new ball game for everyone, including the managers and head coaches.

Albion boss Potter said: “The job hasn’t changed in terms of what we are trying do, but how you do it might change because the circumstances and the external factors around the game have changed.

“The crowd is not there anymore, so how do you interact and support the players to make sure ultimately they are taking responsibility for their actions on the pitch? It’s important because they are the ones out there.

“I don’t want it to be a situation where they are waiting to listen to me because then they're not playing football. It's finding that balance.

“Sometimes when there is a crowd, the crowd blocks me out, which is sometimes positive sometimes negative. It depends who you speak to! But again, that's something that we have to consider and think about and adapt to, because I think it changes how you do the job. Not what you do but how you do it.

“I can shout and scream and jump up and down as much as I want, but whether it has the effect of helping us play better and win, that's a different consideration.

“My role on the sideline is to help the players play the best they can and hopefully get the result. Whatever tools we can use on the side lines to help make that happen, that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Potter accepts it should be easier to make himself heard during a match.

He added: “That can be good, it can be not so good, depends on you speak to!

“But, yes, hopefully with no crowd you can get a message on and there's less excuse for the players not to hear.

“Sometimes when I shout something, the player just puts his hand to his ear as if he can’t hear! And then he carries on with the game.

“We all have to adapt to the new environment.”