Forest Green permit Savage talks and confirm Wealdstone absence

Forest Green Rovers have given Robbie Savage permission to speak to another club and confirmed that their manager will not be in the dugout for Tuesday's home match against Wealdstone, BBC Sport reported on Monday. The announcement concerns talks, rather than a completed managerial departure.

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The decision follows questions about Savage's future over the weekend. Asked on Saturday whether there had been contact from Peterborough United, he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he did not know and was concentrating on preparing his team. Peterborough dismissed Luke Williams on 19 September and are 23rd in League One, with one win from eight matches.

Forest Green are 12th in the National League after 10 games, having recorded four victories, two draws and four defeats. Savage led them to seventh place last season, but their campaign ended in the play-off eliminators, according to the BBC's report.

His latest match brought a frustrating finish at Sutton United on Saturday. Stroud News reported that Forest Green drew 3-3 after twice establishing a two-goal advantage. Jayden Clarke, Oli Ewing and Kyle McAllister scored for Rovers, who lost Freddie Sass to a second yellow card in the 52nd minute. Temi Babalola then headed Sutton's equaliser in stoppage time.

That result also left availability concerns for the Wealdstone fixture. Stroud News reported that Sass faced suspension, Ewing was carrying a knock and Filozofe Mabete was due to depart for international duty. Speaking after the Sutton game, Savage raised the possibility of opportunities for academy players and praised the effort of those who had played.

Savage arrived at Forest Green in July 2025 after leaving Macclesfield. In its announcement of his departure, Macclesfield said he had served first as director of football and then as head coach. The club thanked him for his contribution over five years and also confirmed the exit of John McMahon, marking changes to its own management team.

For Forest Green, Monday's confirmed development is permission for discussions and Savage's absence from the next dugout. The BBC described the Peterborough connection as speculation; its report did not announce an appointment or identify a completed agreement between the clubs.