Lighting the blue touch paper, Forest Green boss Robbie Savage insists his side would ‘run all over’ Cheltenham Town if the teams meet in the FA Cup this season.
Cheltenham announced the return of Steve Cotterill on a three-year deal earlier today, the vastly experienced boss previously in charge at Forest Green. Asked about the move, Savage was respectful in his assessment.
“Good luck to Steve,” he said. “If I’d have gone in there, I’d have probably kept them up. So, to be fair, it’s an opportunity for him. He’s been a brilliant manager – the amount of games he’s had, the clubs he’s managed, and he finished third last year. It’s an opportunity for him to go back to a club where he’s done well in the past, I believe. And again, good luck to him. I’ve got no ill feelings towards Steve Cotterill. I’ve only met him on one or two occasions. He was absolutely fine with me. And as a manager, I know how difficult it is. He nearly got Forest Green promoted last year. They failed. You know, they failed because they didn’t go up.”
Gaffer tapes: Listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged interview – the Rovers’ boss gives his synopsis ahead of tomorrow night’s National League trip to Boston, Steve Cotterill’s appointment at Cheltenham Town, potential player exits and thoughts on the FA Cup.
“He’ll be looking to go there and keep Cheltenham up, with his managerial experience, it’s a great opportunity for him. But again, I’m not worried about Cheltenham, and to be honest with you, I don’t really care if they stay up or go down. All I hope is that, we play them next season, whatever league they’re in, because that’ll be brilliant.”
With an eye on Cheltenham, Savage respectfully knows his side have to firstly negate a potential FA Cup banana skin at Worthing a week on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round, before any dream tie with their bitter rivals.
“With a glint in his eye, Savage said: “I’d love to play Cheltenham. Love to play them, because I think we’d run all over them. People have asked me who I would like in the first round If we got through? I’d love to play Cheltenham away and go their and go through to the second round and then get somebody and then play Man United, wouldn’t it be great – we can dream it’s the FA Cup.”
With Cotterill back at Cheltenham, Savage was asked about the future of players not featuring this season. Former Robins duo Sean Long and Liam Sercombe—both signed by the ex-Rovers boss—could make an emotional return to their former club along with Adam May and Cian Harries.
“That’s a decision for Mark Bowen, the sporting director,” Savage replied.
“They’re in a higher league, Cheltenham, obviously. Then we’ll look at the situation, if players knock on my door and say there’s an opportunity there for them. Obviously, if it suits our football club, which is the most important thing, as Mark and I have looked after our football club in the interests of Forest Green. But if there’s opportunities and it’s right for all parties, of course that doesn’t matter if you’re in the squad or not in the squad. If that’s the situation and a player wants to have a conversation, of course I’m always open to that.”
Savage then turned to his own expectations for Forest Green.
“Will it be a failure this year if we don’t go up? You know, that is a big question. I think, you know, we look at teams in our league – big clubs – Carlisle coming down, York, were probably the two favourites. So was it, when I’ve taken the job with the new players, was everybody saying Forest Green have to win the league, they’re favourites, they’ve got to go up? I don’t think that’s what people thought when I came in. But again, if we don’t go up, we’ll go again in the summer and have another shot at it. But I believe we’re a really, really good side.”
