Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has claimed that Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony contacted Robbie Savage before Peterborough formally asked permission to speak to the manager who later left the Stroud club.
Vince made the allegation during a live talkSPORT interview with Jim White and Simon Jordan. He said he had recently learned new information about the circumstances surrounding Savage’s departure, while acknowledging that he had previously been wrong about the order of events.
What Dale Vince alleges
According to Vince’s account, the first contact with Savage happened during a phone call approximately a week before Peterborough approached Forest Green. He said the call took place after Forest Green’s game against Boston.
“It was a phone call to our manager after our game against Boston, would have been about a week before the first approach from Posh to us to ask for permission. So, before asking for permission, the approach had already been made.”
Asked whether he considered the alleged contact to have been above board, Vince replied:
“No.”
Vince said Forest Green learned about the alleged contact from Savage himself.
“Our manager, our ex-manager, Robbie, told the club.”
He argued that the information supported his earlier concerns about how Savage’s move had been handled. Vince said he believed it contradicted MacAnthony’s position that there had been no improper approach.
“I think it just substantiates what I’ve been saying. There wasn’t a legal approach. It kind of undermines what Darragh’s been saying that there wasn’t, and my thought, you know, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. He either doesn’t know what’s happening or he’s being untruthful. I think what we see now is he’s being untruthful.”
Peterborough’s position and possible next steps
MacAnthony has previously denied that Peterborough made an improper approach. He has maintained that the process used to appoint a new manager was conducted correctly.
Vince did not say whether he planned to make a formal complaint or take further action. When asked what he would do next, he said he did not yet know, adding that he had seen MacAnthony call for the dispute to be calmed.
“Honestly, Jim, I don’t know. I’ve seen that Darragh on his podcast is saying, ‘Let’s calm things down’ and stuff like that.”
Vince said he objected to what he described as dishonesty, but also indicated that he was busy with other commitments, including filming for Countryfile.
“I dislike dishonesty, whenever I bump into it in my life. So, you know, there are ways to sort this out and put it behind us. But at the minute, I’m really busy. I’m about off to go do some filming with Countryfile and a hundred other things. But I just popped on your show to, well, join the discussion.”
He said he had spoken publicly because he believed alleged approaches of this kind were wrong and against football rules.
“This kind of thing does happen. It is wrong. It is against the rules. It’s kind of morally wrong as well. When it happens, I just call it out. It’s as simple as that because I think it would be better for football if it didn’t happen. And I can’t do much more than just call it out when I see it, and I’m content with that.”
Forest Green’s plan after Savage’s departure
The interview also covered Forest Green’s immediate plans following Savage’s departure. Vince confirmed the club would continue for a period with Jonathan Gould, Yan Klukowski and Josh Bowen while it considered its options, rather than rushing to appoint a permanent replacement.
He said the three coaches had a broad range of experience, understood the club and its players, and had already been carrying out the coaching work. The main change, he said, was who would lead the team on matchdays from the technical area, which could create a deficiency.
Vince said the club did not want to “rock the boat” by appointing a new manager immediately, because a new arrival might seek to change the staff and playing squad. He added that Forest Green believed it had a good group of players and coaches who could get the best from them.
“We’re content at the moment to see how we go for a period of time.”
Forest Green’s approach, according to Vince, is to assess the current coaching arrangement before deciding whether a permanent managerial appointment is necessary.
