Robbie Savage has defended his conduct on the touchline after receiving a touchline ban for today’s match at home to Aldershot, insisting that his actions come from passion and a desire to stand up for his players.
Explaining the situation, the Forest Green boss said he will now have to watch from the stands with members of his staff taking on touchline duties.
“I’ve got Hats (Wayne Hatswell) now. I’ve got Dan Watson, John (McMahon) and Josh (Bowen). I’ll be sitting next to Dale (Vince).
“My last touchline ban was for three yellows, two were for celebrating emotion, passion and one was for leaving my technical area. The next three were for leaving the technical area, showing passion and emotion.”
The manager stressed that he maintains strict standards for behaviour among his staff, particularly regarding language in the technical area.
“I’m a huge advocate on language in the technical area for my staff. We don’t use foul and abusive language. Any of my staff use foul and abusive language or do something untoward, it’s an internal fine because I don’t have it.”
Despite those standards, he feels some of the punishments have been harsh.
“And here I am having yellow cards now with another touchline ban just for showing passion and emotion.”
He said he has deliberately tried to distance himself from officials and opposition benches in recent matches.
“If you’ve noticed in games recently, I’d take myself completely the opposite side of the dugout, away from the fourth official, away from the opposition bench because I just want contact with my team and don’t get involved.”
However, he admitted that emotions can run high during games, especially when he feels his players have been treated unfairly.
“But at the weekend, you know, when passions are boiling over, you know, when I’ve seen tackles on my players like the one on Kyle, you know, I’m trying to protect my players from fouls.”
“If I show a bit of passion and emotion, leaving my technical area by five yards and get yellow-carded, I just think it’s a little bit harsh.”
He also pointed to what he has observed at the top level of the game.
“I’ve witnessed it all week in the Premier League, managers leaving technical areas. You know, I seem to get punished quite a lot.”
Despite his frustration, he acknowledged that the rules are clear.
“But when I see some of the tackles on my players, I’m going to defend my players and show passion and emotion. I’ll take it because it’s the law, it’s the law.”
He also emphasised that none of his cautions have been for abusive conduct.
“I’ve not been sent off once or booked once for foul abusive language, because I don’t do that. We don’t do that as a technical staff, so I feel a little bit aggrieved.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming game against Aldershot, he joked about Dale Vince stepping into the spotlight.
Savage said: “I’ve warned Dale to make sure he’s got all his pads on, because last time I was kicking every ball, his heading his arm, but you know I enjoyed being up there because I had a different view of the game, but again it’s… I’ve got great staff with me who can, who are fine.”
When asked whether he feels he is being singled out because of his high-profile name, he reiterated that his behaviour simply reflects his personality.
“I’m passionate, I’m emotional, and I’ll defend my players when I think they’ve been wronged and the decisions go against us.”
He also referenced a specific incident involving one of his players.
“The Kyle McAllister tackle in that passage of play, there was not even a foul.”
“Yeah, I leave my technical area with emotion and I get a yellow card. But again, it is what it is. The law is if you leave your technical area, that’s what happened.”
He said he has already taken steps to reduce the chances of further incidents.
“That’s why, if you’ve noticed, in the last three games, I take myself away and I stand the opposite side now because I don’t want to get involved.”
“I don’t want to get involved because in all season I listen to opposition benches and, you know, it’s not the way I want my management team to act., but again, you know, I’m their manager, I’m their leader and I have to set the example. So that’s why I take myself out of it now. And I will be taking myself the opposite side because, as it stands, it suggests that I’m getting booked a lot for showing emotion and passion.”
