Former Forest Green boss Steve Cotterill has returned to Cheltenham Town as their new manager 23 years after he left the club, on a deal until the summer of 2028.
Cotterill, 61, departed Forest Green Rovers in June after chairman Dale Vince ended his 18-month reign at the New Lawn. Cotterill led Rovers to third in the table last season, but they were beaten by Southend United on penalties in the play-offs to miss out on a place in the Wembley final.
Before that, he enjoyed a long and varied managerial career that has included spells in charge of Burnley, Stoke City, Notts County, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Shrewsbury Town.
He is also well acquainted with Cheltenham’s new chairman Mike Garlick, having worked alongside him during a three-year stint at Burnley in the mid-2000s. Their relationship is seen as a key factor in his return to the Robins.
Cotterill is set to bring in Rob Edwards and Russell Milton, who worked under him at Forest Green.
“I am very pleased to confirm that Steve Cotterill is returning to us as manager,” chairman David Bloxham told the club website.
“Those are words many people never thought they would hear, but having held discussions with Steve and his agent over the past few days, we all believe that the time is right for him to return.
“Steve is a manager with vast experience and a record of success going back many years.
“I think it’s fair to say that we would not be able to attract someone with his record of success unless he wanted the opportunity to rejoin his hometown club and the place where it all began for him.”
