Robbie Savage appointed Peterborough United manager after Forest Green spell

Robbie Savage was unveiled as Peterborough United's new manager at Friday's unveiling, with long-time club figure Barry Fry telling supporters: "All I can say to you Posh fans... you lucky people!" The appointment replaces Luke Williams and represents Savage's first managerial role at an EFL club.

Fry's association with Peterborough United spans more than 30 memorable years, and he predicted the club's next chapter would be anything but dull. A little over two years ago, 51-year-old Savage was appointed at seventh-tier Northern Premier League Premier Division side Macclesfield FC, where his only season produced 109 goals and 109 points to secure promotion to National League North. He left Macclesfield to join National League side Forest Green Rovers in July 2025 and, in his only full season in charge, guided them to the play-offs before they were beaten by Boreham Wood. As Savage departs Forest Green sit 13th after 11 matches, with four wins, three draws and four defeats.

"Excitement is the word I can use to describe the appointment of Robbie Savage as our new manager," Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony said. "His personality, character and mindset is something we need top to bottom. Nobody will work harder to get us up and running again than Robbie." MacAnthony added: "The board were blown away by him in an extensive interview and his hunger to fix our issues and get confidence back into our talented squad is what I am most excited by."

Club director Iain Crawford described the move as "a calculated big swing" and outlined the decision-making that led to Savage's hiring. "We could've taken the safe option. I have no doubt that the other candidates would have got us up the table - we'd have been fine," he said. "I feel with most of them there was probably a ceiling. With Robbie we feel there is no ceiling. We felt the football club and playing style just needed a shake. As Darragh put it in one of our calls, we just need to take a big swing. That's what we've done. Robbie is a bit of a big swing."

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Forest Green reporter Paul Furley summarised Savage's approach as "relentless." Savage set out his own pitch at the Peterborough unveiling, saying he loves "entertaining, attacking football, that is my belief. I would rather win games 5-4 than 1-0." Furley added: "He [Savage] loves a 4-2-3-1 formation." Under Savage, Forest Green's goals scored rose from 69 to 82 compared with the previous season, while goals conceded increased from 42 to 52.

Furley also described Savage's touchline manner and relationship with supporters: "On the touchline he is like a jack in the box, he likes to keep his team talks short. He likes to come out early before the match and gets the crowd going. He's very big on his connection with the fans." He credited Savage with overhauling Forest Green's squad, saying: "He revolutionised the squad at Forest Green, and only two first team regulars pre-date him. He always pointed to reducing the club's wage bill as one of the things he was tasked with and one of his major achievements."

On recruitment, Furley commented: "Lots was made of Robbie Savage signing a new player every time Forest Green lost a game. But plenty of those were either loan signings, or players from a lower level, given opportunities to become full-time professionals. That inevitably has a lower immediate strike-rate of success, but is good for the health of the game. It also show his love of football at all levels – from Macclesfield to Forest Green, to League One where his son Charlie plays and he now manages, to the Premier League where he played and watches as a pundit."

Supporters who experienced Savage's tenure offered mixed but largely positive recollections of his off-field impact. Forest Green fan Damian Ockham said: "He was brilliant with fans. Different to anything we've seen before. He was happy to meet people, speak to people. He was quite open and honest and would front up to a good or bad result." Macclesfield FC supporter Mark Sharpley added: "His legacy at Macc is absolute. Nobody can change what he did, with record breaking points and goals. He's part of the club's fabric. The way he left left a sour taste, but everything he did was there for all to see. Nobody could say he wasn't good for the club, he got eyeballs on us from the moment we were reformed. He's a big personality who would always stop to chat and shake your hand."

Peterborough are second bottom of League One, and the club remains the best part of three months away from the January transfer window. Savage will continue his media work alongside his managerial duties, carrying on co-hosting BBC Radio 5 Live's football phone-in 606 and will be on-air for Sunday's edition from 18:30 BST.