NL 2025/26 Preview: Forest Green Rovers

7th July 2025 2:55 pm

Forest Green Rovers – 2025/26 Season Preview: A Club in Contention… and in Transition

Forest Green Rovers should be riding the momentum of a 3rd-place finish and a near-miss at Wembley last season, but instead, The New Lawn is a club in flux. A late-season stumble was followed by a divisive Director of Football appointment—and now, Steve Cotterill has been sacked.

Enter Robbie Savage.

The former Premier League midfielder and Macclesfield boss has been appointed as Forest Green’s new manager, tasked with leading the club back into the EFL with “fast, exciting, aggressive” football. Savage’s success at Macclesfield—winning the Northern Premier League with 109 points and 109 goals—demonstrates his attacking credentials, but this is a very different stage, with promotion pressure and a fanbase desperate for stability.

2024/25 Season in Review

Final Position: 3rd (Play-off semi-finalists)
Average Attendance: 1,922 (14th in National League)
FA Cup: 1st Round – Lost 2–1 at Stockport
FA Trophy: 5th Round – Lost 1–0 at Oxford City
Top Scorer: Christian Doidge (12 goals)
Key Player: Kyle McAllister (10 goals, 10 assists)

Under manager Steve Cotterill, Rovers stabilised and proved hard to beat, with Doidge’s physicality and McAllister’s creativity forming one of the most productive attacking duos in the division. Cup exits were respectable, and the team narrowly missed out on a play-off final.

2025/26 Squad Overview

Forest Green Rovers can expect energy, reliability, and promotion-winning experience from their new Macclesfield trio. Laurent Mendy, named in the Northern Premier Division Team of the Season, is a durable, physically strong defender who played every league minute last season, keeping 21 clean sheets and offering leadership at the back. On the right, Tre Pemberton will bring pace and drive, having made nearly 90 appearances across two consistent seasons, adding dynamism and attacking threat from full-back or wing-back. Neil Kengni, also a Team of the Season pick, offers versatility and quality on the left, giving FGR balance and attacking width as Robbie Savage reunites with players he trusts to implement his system.

Luke McNicholas adds further stability between the sticks, with the 25-year-old Irish goalkeeper boasting an excellent clean sheet record during his loan at Rochdale before injury cut short his campaign. If fit, McNicholas will provide a commanding presence and sharp reflexes, crucial for FGR’s defensive structure. Up top, Yahaya Bamba offers blistering pace and flexibility across the front line, giving Forest Green a direct outlet and unpredictability in attack, with potential to develop into a key threat under Savage’s guidance. Collectively, these signings should give FGR the foundations for a more resilient, mobile, and hard-working squad heading into the new campaign.

Signings and retained list

New signings: Yahya Bamba (Eastbourne Borough), Laurent Mendy (Macclesfield Town), Tre Pemberton (Macclesfield Town), Neil Kengni (Macclesfield Town), Luke McNicholas (Wrexham), Abraham Kanu (Reading, season loan), Kairo Mitchell (Rochdale), Isaac Moore (Coventry, season loan), Jayden Clarke (Gillingham), Nick Haughton (Fylde), Aidan Dausch (Coventry, season loan), Max Robson (Spurs)
Retained: Ryan Inniss, Adam May, Sean Long, Harvey Bunker, Liam Sercombe, Tom Knowles, Kyle McAllister, Christian Doidge, Harry Cardwell, Cian Harries, Keon Sanniola, Will Merrett (since joined Alvechurch on loan), Jose Marquez, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Fiachra Pagel

Departures

Departed/Released: Ben Tozer (retired), Teddy Jenks, Jordon Garrick, Emmanuel Osadebe, Tyrese Omotoye, Jamie Searle, Joe Quigley (Oldham), Jamie Robson, Charlie McCann
Loans returned: Luke McCormick, Ted Cann, Brandon Fleming

Two headline changes: a summer of change — a winter of discontent?

The close season at Forest Green has been anything but quiet. It began on 10 June with the appointment of Mark Bowen as Director of Football—a move that immediately divided opinion. Bowen’s experience in recruitment and long-term planning, credited with building an exciting young Reading side under difficult conditions, was clear. But his arrival sparked scepticism among supporters about what it might mean for Steve Cotterill’s future.

Those concerns were swiftly realised. Just sixteen days later, on 26 June, Forest Green issued a blunt, 34-word statement announcing Cotterill’s sacking, signalling yet another managerial change at The New Lawn.

Barely days later, on 1 July, the club moved to appoint Robbie Savage as the new first team manager. His arrival has been met with a mix of cautious optimism, humour, and concern among the fanbase. Many welcome his promise of attacking, energetic football and hope his promotion record at Macclesfield can inject new life into a squad that narrowly missed out last season. Others question the timing of Cotterill’s departure and worry about another reset under Dale Vince and Bowen’s new structure.

For now, Forest Green supporters remain intrigued but wary. Some fear a short-term lift followed by fresh instability if results don’t come quickly, while others see Savage’s arrival as a genuine fresh start to build a clear identity and attract young talent. The mood at The New Lawn is clear: cautious hope, but a determination to see words turn into wins.

In his first interview, Robbie Savage expressed pride in taking over Forest Green, describing it as an “exciting project” with the clear goal of returning the club to the EFL. He highlighted his successful spell at Macclesfield—breaking records for goals and points with an attacking, dynamic team—and pledged to bring a similar “fast, exciting, aggressive” style to Forest Green. Savage emphasised a desire to press high, get the ball forward quickly, and encourage players to be brave in one-v-one situations, stating he’d “rather win 3-2, 4-3” than play it safe, while stressing that winning games remains the priority.

Savage also spoke about building a club identity with a clear pathway for young players and coaches, aiming to “enable, engage, and empower” while creating a culture where people can “be the best they can be.” Acknowledging some fans’ scepticism, he promised commitment, passion, and a focus on winning the right way, stating that he and his staff would “give everything for this football club.” The challenge now is for Savage to turn words into results—and prove that Forest Green’s gamble can deliver promotion.

Player to watch

2025/26 Prediction: 2nd–4th (Promotion or Bust)

Strengths:

Cohesive, experienced spine: Doidge, McAllister, Inniss, May
Savage will bring excitement and attacking intent
Play-off heartbreak could fuel hunger

Weaknesses:

Managerial inexperience at National League level
Rivals have been more pro-active in the market
Uncertainty around roles and recruitment model

With Robbie Savage now in charge, Forest Green’s season feels unpredictable but potentially exciting. If Savage’s attacking style clicks quickly and Bowen’s recruitment delivers, a serious promotion push is realistic. If early results falter, the gamble to reset under a rookie manager could backfire, leaving the club stuck in National League purgatory. It’s a season that could go either way—but it will be anything but boring. 4th.