Forest Green Rovers’ interim coaching trio have used a full week on the training ground to prepare for what Josh Bowen describes as a must-win FA Cup tie at Chesham United.
Bowen, working alongside Jonathan Gould and Yan Klukowski in the temporary “three wise men” structure, said the squad had spent the week reviewing the 4-2 defeat by Hartlepool United and addressing the moments that have been costing the team.
The FA Cup match is due to take place on Saturday, with Forest Green travelling to Chesham. Bowen said the club’s entire focus had been on the tie since the Hartlepool game, and that attention would turn to the next fixture only after the match was over.
A full week to work on Forest Green’s weaknesses
Monday began with a detailed debrief rather than outdoor training. The following day, the focus moved to the qualities Forest Green want to show while also dealing with the defensive and concentration issues that have repeatedly been punished.
Bowen said the time was particularly valuable because Forest Green had not enjoyed much preparation time last season while involved in the National League Cup. Another free week follows the Chesham fixture, although the club also has postponed or rearranged commitments, including the Scunthorpe game, to fit into its schedule.
Tom McIntyre has also benefited from the uninterrupted work. Bowen knows the defender from his time at Reading and said McIntyre had endured a disrupted couple of years after previously playing regularly. The coach cautioned against immediately placing him into a schedule of three matches a week while he learns his team-mates and the way Forest Green play.
Defensive improvement, Bowen said, will come through repetition. The coaching staff want the team to retain the attacking qualities that have become familiar while building equally reliable habits without the ball.
Injury updates before the Chesham match
Forest Green’s injury list still includes Emeka Obi, who has an ACL injury, and players with knee problems including Ricardo Rees and Joshua Osude. Kairo Mitchell is the squad’s only muscle-injury case, according to Bowen.
The coaching team expects a number of players to return over the next two or three weeks. Ollie Ewing and Osude were described as the furthest along, while Ewing has returned to grass work and jogging after injuring his shin shortly after scoring against Sutton.
Bowen said Ewing could be around another week to 10 days from a return. Rees had initially faced a possible three- or four-month absence, but a specialist consultation shortened that estimate, with a return within the next couple of months, potentially around six weeks, considered possible.
Forest Green have not been told that any loan players are unavailable for the FA Cup match. Bowen said the club had good relationships with Liverpool, Reading and other parent clubs and intended to select as strongly as possible.
He also praised Jayden Clarke, calling him Forest Green’s best player so far this season on a pound-for-pound basis, while highlighting Tate Campbell’s continuity and understanding of the team.
Bowen: results will silence the outside noise
The temporary coaching arrangement has been formed after recent changes at the club. Bowen said the three coaches were aligned in how they think and want to play, and that none was trying to claim individual control of the team.
He also pointed to the benefit of continuity. Bowen joined Forest Green around December after being brought in by Robbie Savage, having previously worked at Reading and alongside John McMahon. Although the squad changed during the summer, he said the coaching staff knew its strengths and weaknesses while still giving every player a fresh opportunity.
Pressure around the club and owner Dale Vince has been a subject of discussion among supporters and in the media. Bowen said the coaching staff were concentrating on daily planning, tactical preparation and player availability rather than becoming distracted by that conversation.
Forest Green’s 4-2 loss to Hartlepool left the team needing a response, but Bowen remains confident the club’s performances and data point to a stronger league position. He acknowledged that the table reflects the points earned so far, while saying the team must correct the key errors that have held it back.
For supporters worried by the changes, his message was straightforward: winning games is what will rebuild confidence. Bowen said the fans continued to back the team even when it was 3-0 down against Hartlepool, and he wants that support rewarded by a strong FA Cup performance at Chesham.