Forest Green Rovers: New Lawn is Savage Garden
Forest Green Rovers’ first season under Robbie Savage was many things, but dull was not one of them.
A 7th-place finish, 81 points, a play-off eliminator defeat by a single goal away at eventual finalists Boreham Wood, and a campaign that somehow managed to feel both impressive and slightly frustrating at the same time.
In most National League seasons, 81 points gets you a far more comfortable view of the play-off picture. Since the introduction of the current top-seven format, no side had previously needed anything close to that total to guarantee a play-off finish. Forest Green were only two points worse off than their 2024/25 total, yet finished four places lower. That says plenty about them, but even more about the brutality of the division last season.
They were there or thereabouts all year, ever-present in the top seven from the second week of the campaign onwards, and they made The New Lawn a fortress, collecting 50 of their 81 points at home. They were also ruthless against the league’s weaker sides, losing just once to a bottom-half team.
The problem was what happened when the margins tightened. Against the better sides, in the bigger moments, and ultimately in the play-offs, Forest Green came up just short. Good enough to stay in the conversation, not quite good enough to win it.
Now comes the harder bit. Savage has had his bedding-in year. The novelty has worn off. The expectations have not.
From the dugout
Robbie Savage remains the headline figure at The New Lawn. His second season should tell us more than his first. Last year carried curiosity, noise and plenty of questions. Could he turn profile into substance? Could he make Forest Green serious contenders again? Broadly, yes. But not completely.
For a club with recent EFL history and clear ambition, a play-off eliminator defeat still leaves an itch. There has also been backroom change, with several first-team staff moving on. Yan Klukowski’s promotion from Head of Academy to first-team coach is significant. He knows the club, understands the culture and strengthens the link between academy and first team. After using 40 players last season, Forest Green need more clarity and continuity.
Savage’s stance
Robbie Savage has been clear that the aim is to improve on last season’s points total, win more games and ultimately get promoted, but he has also repeatedly stressed how competitive the division looks. There is confidence in the squad, with Savage saying Forest Green are happy with the group and will only add if players leave, injuries bite or the goalkeeper situation demands it.
The only obvious open question is the number one shirt, with Luke McNicholas and Fiachra Pagel competing while the club consider another option — the number 1 shirt remains vacant. Just as important is the stance on Laurent Mendy. Savage says no bid has been received and that Forest Green do not want to sell their best players.
Summer Mood
Dale Vince is known for turning over managers quicker than the expiry date of vegan sausage rolls. Not since Mark Cooper at the turn of the decade has a Forest Green manager gone two consecutive seasons in the dugout. Savage is the seventh appointment since 2021 and there will be an expectation that his rock ‘n roll football delivers bigger things come next May.
There is real excitement around the arrivals of Emeka Obi from Kidderminster Harriers and Kyle Ajayi. At 6ft 6in and 6ft 4in respectively, they give Forest Green the size, presence and defensive authority they often lacked last season when the back line was too easily exposed.
The feeling is that Forest Green are better placed to challenge this time around; the ambition has been matched by targeted arrivals.
Squad
Forest Green’s squad profile looks young and attack-heavy. The confirmed group averages 24.2, with no unit especially old. Even the oldest player is only 31. There is plenty of energy, resale potential and forward depth, with nine attackers listed. And the Obi and Ajayi additions bolster the defence.
The arrivals all fit the younger, upwardly mobile theme. Retaining a core that includes that includes Nick Haughton, Kairo Mitchell, Kyle McAllister, Ricardo Rees and Jayden Clarke.
Retained
- Luke McNicholas | Goalkeeper | Age 26
- Neil Kengni | Defence | Age 26
- Laurent Mendy | Defence | Age 29
- Nick Haughton | Midfield | Age 31
- Jayden Clarke | Midfield | Age 25
- Tate Campbell | Midfield | Age 24
- Tre Pemberton | Midfield | Age 27
- Max Robson | Defence | Age 23
- Gabe Kircough | Defence | Age 22
- Sean Etaluku | Forward | Age 22
- Kairo Mitchell | Forward | Age 28
- Josh Osude | Forward | Age 27
- D’Mani Mellor | Forward | Age 25
- Ricardo Rees | Forward | Age 26
- Kyle McAllister | Forward | Age 27
- Fiachra Pagel | Goalkeeper | Age 22
- Jose Marquez | Forward | Age 20
- Jesse Aldridge | Midfield | Age 19
- Akai Bonnick | Midfield | Age 20
- Will Merrett | Defence | Age 20
Players in
- Kyle Ajayi « Hemel Hempstead Town | Free Transfer | Defence | Age 26
- Bryan Ifeanyi « Carshalton Athletic | Free Transfer | Forward | Age 22
- Oliver Ewing « Scunthorpe United | Undisclosed Compensation Fee | Midfield | Age 23
- James Berry « Wycombe Wanderers | Season Long Loan | Forward | Age 25
- Emeka Obi « Kidderminster Harriers | Undisclosed Fee | Defence | Age 25
- Sydney Agina | Stoke City | Loan until January 2027 | Defence | Age 18
- NEW: Ethan Ross | Altrincham | Free Transfer | Goalkeeper | Age 29
Players out
- Sean Long » Released | Defence | Age 31
- Ryan Inniss » Hornchurch | Defence | Age 31
- Christian Doidge » Newport County | Free Transfer | Forward | Age 33
- Liam Sercombe » Weston-super-Mare | Free Transfer | Midfield | Age 36
- Harvey Bunker » Carlisle United | Free Transfer | Midfield | Age 23
- Tom Knowles » Barnet FC | Free Transfer | Forward | Age 27
- Harry Cardwell » Southend United | Free Transfer | Forward | Age 29
- Keon Sanniola » Released | Defence | Age 20
- Temi Babalola » Sutton United | Undisclosed Fee | Forward | Age 25
- Jordan Moore-Taylor » Sutton United | Free Transfer | Defence | Age 32
- Cian Harries » Kidderminster Harriers | Season Long Loan | Defence | Age 29
- Yahya Bamba » Newport County | Undisclosed Fee | Forward | Age 27
- Harry Isted » Released | Goalkeeper | Age 29
One to Watch
Forest Green needed a bit more explosiveness, a bit more unpredictability, and a bit more end product in the biggest moments last season. Bryan Ifeanyi arrives with exactly the sort of numbers that make supporters sit up: 13 goals and 10 assists last season, 30 goal contributions the year before, and a reputation for pace, quick feet and attacking threat out wide.
The caveat is the jump. Carshalton to Forest Green is not a small step, and National League defenders will test him physically and tactically in ways he may not have faced every week before.
But the upside is clear. If he adapts quickly, he could give Savage’s side something they lacked at times last season: a player who can turn a tight game without needing the entire team to be purring.
Bookies’ Odds
Forest Green opened around 6/1, so a drift to 8/1 or 9/1 feels curious. They were solid last season, and targeted additions have complemented a squad already packed with National League quality.
The market may be cooling slightly, but promotion credentials remain obvious if Savage keeps Mendy and other key men together.
Prediction — 3rd
Forest Green look capable of improving on last year. There is some scepticism from other National League fanbases about the number of players they get through, but this squad looks stronger than the one that finished 7th last season. Question marks remain in goal after Harry Isted’s summer departure, but elsewhere they have enough quality, depth and attacking threat to make another serious promotion push.
