Peterborough United have appointed Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage as their new manager. The 51-year-old takes over at the Weston Homes Stadium as the successor to Luke Williams, who was sacked on 19 September after a poor start to the League One season left Posh 23rd in the division. It will be Savage’s first managerial role at an EFL club.
Savage is a former Wales international who played as a midfielder for clubs including Derby County, Birmingham City, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers. He was appointed by Forest Green in July last year, having previously managed fellow non-league side Macclesfield. Last season he guided Forest Green to seventh in the National League, where they were beaten in the play-off eliminators. This season Forest Green sit 12th after 10 matches, with four wins, two draws and four defeats.
He will take charge of Peterborough for the first time when they host Ipswich Town Under-21s in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on 6 October. Posh then resume their league campaign with a trip to Savage’s former club Leicester City on 10 October.
Peter Swan, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s sports editor, described the appointment as extremely surprising. In his analysis, Swan said Savage’s managerial record to date is modest by League One standards and that there are question marks over his ability to handle Darragh MacAnthony’s famously hands-on style of ownership. Swan also suggested that, following two years of stasis, a Robbie Savage-shaped curveball might be exactly what Posh need.
Savage inherits a side sitting second from bottom of the League One table. Peterborough have scored only four goals in the league so far this season, while key players have been sold and the summer replacements are yet to convince.
Swan added that Savage will need to hit the ground running. Job security has proved in short supply for recent Posh managers, with the notable exception of Darren Ferguson. Luke Williams lasted nine months, Grant McCann the same, and Steve Evans reached 10 months. Swan said Savage clearly has a huge task on his hands, but that whatever happens, it is unlikely to be dull.