Forest Green operate without manager as Savage joins Peterborough

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has announced that the National League club will operate without a manager or head coach after Robbie Savage left to take charge of Peterborough in the EFL. The decision comes weeks after Savage’s departure, which the owner described as “sensational”. Vince added that the club is not in a hurry to appoint a replacement.

Savage’s EFL debut

Savage’s EFL debut was a picture‑perfect start, as his Peterborough side recorded a 3‑1 away win at Leicester City on Saturday. Getty supplied the image of the triumph. The victory also intensified speculation that the Foxes defeat could jeopardise Russell Martin’s future at Leicester.

Club’s recent form

Forest Green sit 16th in the fifth tier after dropping out of the Football League two years ago. They suffered a 4‑2 home loss to Hartlepool on Saturday and have failed to win in their last five matches. To date they have secured four wins from twelve games this season, including a 1‑1 draw with Wealdstone on Tuesday.

Since Savage’s exit, the coaching trio of Jonathan Gould, Josh Bowen and Yan Klukowski have been steering the first‑team. Vince said the three make balanced, rational decisions and already know the squad inside out.

After Savage’s exit, Vince told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: “We’re in a situation where we’re not in a hurry. We’re not actually having any conversations. We haven’t spoken to anybody about the role.” He stressed that “all of the speculation within the media is just speculation” and that “at the moment, there is no vacancy.”

Vince added that he “doesn’t feel an urgency” and believes football is often led by big‑ego managers who may not make the best decisions. He said the club will “run without the big‑ego manager for a little while and see what happens”, trusting the experienced coaching staff to deliver balanced outcomes.

understands that the Foxes defeat has left Russell Martin’s future in serious danger. Should Leicester pull the trigger, they will not face competition from Forest Green because the club is not actively seeking a replacement for Savage.

Vince concluded that the team can thrive without a permanent manager and that the experiment will show whether a collective coaching approach can produce a more balanced decision‑making process. The owner promised to monitor progress over the coming weeks before revisiting the idea of appointing a new boss.