Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage has explained why Harvey Bunker was allowed to leave the club for Carlisle United, saying the decision was based on the playing profile he wanted for his reshaped squad rather than a personal issue.
Bunker, who spent six years at Forest Green after joining following his release from Southampton, has made an impressive start at Carlisle. Savage praised the midfielder before Forest Green’s trip to Carlisle’s Brunton Park, while also making clear that he did not want the move to be interpreted as a criticism of the player.
Why Forest Green decided to let Bunker leave
Savage said Bunker wanted more opportunities after his long spell at the club, but the manager could not promise him a regular place in the first team. That led both sides to conclude that a move would offer the player a better opportunity.
“When I came in, I knew Bunks (Harvey Bunker) because he played with my Charlie (Savage), and Charlie said, ‘What a great lad.’”
“Bunks wanted, like every player, to probably have more opportunities, and I couldn’t guarantee him that. So we decided that it was best he looked for opportunities elsewhere, and he’s been brilliant.”
Savage said he had been impressed by Bunker’s attitude and professionalism, and described him as a player who had been helpful during his time at Forest Green. He also said Carlisle had acquired a very good player.
“He’s a great lad and was really helpful at times for me. He was a great trainer, did everything right, a great professional, and he’s been great for Carlisle. They’ve got a very, very good player. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”
The Forest Green boss added that the issue was not simply about whether Bunker could play, but whether he could be guaranteed the regular minutes he wanted.
“I couldn’t guarantee him playing every single minute of every game, and as players, that’s what you want to do.”
According to Savage, the two parties parted on good terms, with Bunker now making a positive impression at Carlisle. The manager said he hoped the midfielder would continue to do well, although not in the match against Forest Green.
“So, listen, we shook hands, wished him well and he’s done well. Hopefully he continues to do well, but not against us tomorrow.”
The player profile Savage wanted
Savage also gave a tactical explanation for the decision. As he rebuilt the Forest Green squad, he said he was looking for a different type of player in midfield and at centre-half. That assessment, rather than Bunker’s character or general ability, was the reason the manager decided the former Rovers player did not fit his plans.
“I was looking for a different profile as a midfield player or a centre-half. That was just my prerogative – Bunks is a good player, a very good player, but my profile of player in those positions is different. It was different.”
Savage stressed that recruitment decisions were part of the manager’s responsibility and involved the club’s wider football structure. He referred to the alignment between himself, Mark Bowen, Asif Rehmanwala and Dale Vince as Forest Green prepared to make significant decisions about the squad.
“So again, it’s never personal. It’s just what a manager sees. At the end of the day, a manager has the recruitment team and the alignment we have between myself, Mark (Bowen), Asif (Rehmanwala) and (Dale Vince).”
He acknowledged that retaining popular players can be the easiest option, particularly when they are regarded as good professionals. However, Savage said that was not enough to outweigh the need to recruit players suited to the way he wanted Forest Green to play.
“We’ll have big decisions to make, not just with players. Of course you do.”
“And the easiest thing to do is to keep people and offer people contracts because they’re great lads, which Bunks is, and he’s a good player, but the profile for me just wasn’t what I wanted in those positions.”
Savage concluded that Bunker could have suited a different system or approach, but maintained that the player remained highly regarded as he prepared to face his former club with Carlisle.
“If I’d have played a different way, Bunks would have fitted the profile. But he’s a good player and he’s a great lad.”
