Forest Green launch £2m lawsuit over Robbie Savage approach

Forest Green Rovers have opened legal proceedings against Peterborough United over the move that took Robbie Savage from Gloucestershire to League One. Chairman Dale Vince has announced a claim worth £2 million, based on what the club describes as an illegal approach for their then manager.

• Forest Green Rovers are claiming £2 million from Peterborough United over the hiring of Robbie Savage.
• Dale Vince says Peterborough contacted Savage directly after Forest Green refused permission to talk to him.
• Peterborough deny making an illegal approach and insist the process was correct.
• Savage left Forest Green on 2 October with the club 13th after eleven matches.

What Forest Green Rovers are claiming in the lawsuit against Peterborough

The legal case rests on the version of events Vince has defended since Savage's departure was completed. The Forest Green owner says his club initially rejected a request from Peterborough to open talks with the manager. Soon after, he claims, Savage himself told him that he had received a direct call from the interested club.

Vince announced the decision to sue in a short video posted on social media. In that appearance, he confirmed the club had started a legal process over the approach for his manager, whom he already referred to as the former manager.

Peterborough United offered no comment on the legal action, but have previously denied making an illegal approach for Savage.

Robbie Savage and his time at Forest Green Rovers

Savage took over at Forest Green in July 2025 after a successful spell in charge of Macclesfield FC. With the phoenix club formed after Macclesfield Town was wound up in 2020, he secured promotion to National League North with a campaign in which his side collected 109 points and scored 109 goals.

In his only full season in Gloucestershire, Savage led Forest Green to the playoffs, where they were beaten by Boreham Wood. The current campaign began with mixed results, and he left the club on 2 October with the team sitting 13th after eleven games.

How Dale Vince explained Savage's departure

Ten days after Savage was appointed by Peterborough, Vince outlined his version of events in an interview with BBC Radio Gloucestershire. He explained that the League One club asked for permission to speak to his manager and that the answer was no. The sequence he describes then involves a direct approach from Peterborough to Savage, followed by the manager asking to negotiate his exit.

In those same remarks, Vince called the move an illegal approach and said Peterborough had not covered themselves in glory.

Peterborough's response and Savage's record at his new club

Peterborough chairman Darren MacAnthony hit back at the accusations on social media. In a post on X, he said the process to appoint the new manager had been entirely correct and proper, and that all the rules had been followed.

Since taking charge at Peterborough, Savage has overseen six official matches across all competitions. His record stands at two wins, two draws and two defeats.