The latest transfer gossip from BirminghamLive as former Birmingham City colleagues are claimed to be set for a reunion in non-leagueThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Robbie Savage, Manager of Macclesfield(Image: Getty Images)
Forest Green Rovers could be about to replace Steve Cotterill, with Robbie Savage coming in as head coach.
That’s according to Sky Sports News, who understand that newly appointed director of football Mark Bowen ‘wants to bring Robbie Savage in’ even though the former Birmingham City boss signed what was described in January 2024 as a ‘long-term deal’ when he took over at Rovers.
Cotterill replaced Troy Deeney but was unable to prevent the Nailsworth-based outfit from being relegation from League Two.
He stayed to try to lead them back into the EFL but despite finishing third in the National League, came up short in the play-offs.
Speaking after that heartbreaking defeat, Cotterill said a 16-day break between their final league match and their double header with Southend was behind their penalty shoot-out loss. He also said he wanted to stay for another crack next season.
However, Sky claims he won’t get that chance and ‘looks set to leave the non-League club this week’. That claim is backed up by GloucestershireLive reporter Jon Palmer.
Cotterill had a turbulent five-month spell at Blues in 2017/2018 when he won just seven of his 27 games.
Of course, Savage’s name is a familiar one to Birmingham City fans too, with the former midfielder a key part of the side which Steve Bruce stabilised upon their return to the top-flight in 2002. Savage was the heartbeat of that team before controversially engineering a transfer to Blackburn Rovers after 88 games over two-and-a-half seasons.
Bowen was Bruce’s assistant at that point and the pair worked together both at Blues and Blackburn, and also with the Wales set-up.
He held several senior positions at troubled Reading before their relegation to League One a couple of seasons ago, before being named Forest Green’s director of football earlier this month.
Since retiring, Savage as been a broadcaster and latterly part-owner and head coach of non-League side Macclesfield, who will be playing in National League North next season. Macclesfield won the Northern Premier League with six games to play.
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