Robbie Savage has vowed to uphold the tradition of a post-match drink with Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper — even if he won’t be drinking himself.
Savage, a committed teetotaler, will not be partaking in alcohol himself, but has pledged to offer the Yeovil boss a cold beer from the fridge — win, lose, or draw at the New Lawn on Saturday.
When asked by Stroud Times if he would be sharing a beer with his managerial counterpart, he said: “I don’t drink, but obviously I will welcome him into my office whatever the result.”
Cooper spent five seasons at the New Lawn, guiding Rovers into the Football League in his first season in charge, something Savage is keen to replicate.
“I’ve got to emulate what Mark did here, getting promotion – Mark’s got nothing to prove, he won promotion in a play-off final, it’s me that’s got to prove something. I’ve got huge respect for all managers, especially now being one now.
Gaffer tapes: Listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged media interview ahead of Yeovil Town at home
“He’s (Mark Cooper) done something I’ve never done here and that’s won promotion at Forest Green, so I will give him that huge respect, but I want to win, my team want to win.”
Cooper will be returning to Nailsworth with his son Charlie, who was part of the Rovers side that beat Tranmere Rovers in the Wembley play-off final in 2017 to earn Rovers Football League status for the first time in their history.
And Savage understands the unique challenge of managing family and fighting the finger of nepotism, having coached his own son Freddie at Macclesfield.
“It’s hard because in my subconscious mindset with my young Freddie, I was thinking that I’d have to bring Freddie off because how will other players feel if he gets more minutes than others.
“I’m sure Mark has experienced enough to know Charlie’s (Cooper) a good enough player to be treated like anybody else.
“I might be in this situation in the future where I’m a manager and Charlie’s (Savage) playing for me, but you have to treat them as any other player.”
Savage added that being a manager’s son can often be more difficult than people think: “I think it’s harder for the player of the manager, because everybody expects them to be treated differently — better than others. I had it with my Charlie when I watched him play because I was his dad. Everybody thought it was easy for him when it was actually harder. It’s brilliant to see a manager with his son in the team on merit. There won’t be any favours from his dad — trust me. That relationship is obviously a fantastic one, and I’m sure Mark picks a team on merit. If his son is in the team, then so be it.”
