New boss Robbie Savage is missing piece of puzzle for Forest Green – Dale Vince

Robbie Savage has been backed to be the the missing piece in a jigsaw that makes the puzzle “sing” following his appointment as Forest Green’s new manager.

The former Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn, Derby and Wales midfielder takes the reins from Steve Cotterill, who was sacked last week after failing to get Rovers back into the Football League.

Savage only turned his hand to management a year ago, having retired from playing at the top level in 2011 and largely worked in the media as a pundit since then, but he guided Macclesfield to promotion to the Enterprise National League North last season.

And Forest Green owner and chairman Dale Vince believes the modern methods Savage employs – with a particular emphasis on positivity, inclusivity and enjoyment – can reap rewards at the Bolt New Lawn.

Vince told the PA news agency: “I think Robbie could be the missing piece in the jigsaw. But in a jigsaw you could have 100 pieces and that one piece makes the whole 100 sing. That’s what Robbie is.

“It’s a great fit between him and me, between the club we are and want to be. He’s transparent and very much not an old-school football manager in his approach.

“He’s done at well at Macclesfield and there’s all kinds of ingredients in hiring him but first and foremost, it’s about him as a person and what he brings to the club.

“I think we can expect an energetic, positive personality. An attacking, fighting style of football, we will absolutely get results and we’re going to have fun.”

Savage was instrumental when Macclesfield were reformed in 2020, initially serving as a board member before taking on managerial duties.

Savage’s son Charlie had a loan spell with Forest Green in 2023-24, while the 50-year-old will link up with former Wales team-mate Mark Bowen, recently appointed director of football at the National League club.

Savage said in a statement: “I feel I have an opportunity to develop a squad to create an attacking brand of football – an aggressive form of football to try and get Forest Green back into the EFL.”

Forest Green have not disclosed the length of Savage’s contract but, according to Vince, he did not need much persuasion to switch clubs.

Vince added: “He knows the club, he knows me and when he saw the opportunity that opened up, he was immediately interested. I reached out, we had a conversation and bish-bosh.”