The facts
Robbie Savage has been confirmed as the new manager of League One strugglers Peterborough. Savage has left his role at National League side Forest Green Rovers and signed a long-term contract at Posh, who are currently second from bottom and sacked Luke Williams last month. His appointment marks his first Football League role since retiring as a player in 2011. Savage stated, “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but all I want is a chance. I’ve done it all my life.” He added, “When I was released by Manchester United I was told I wasn’t good enough, when I moved to Leicester I wasn’t in the team and had to battle. Nobody’s given me anything in this world, I’ve earned it and I’ve worked hard for it. Judge me when we start playing football – that’s what I love. I’m passionate and emotional and I just want to watch this young team give me everything, play that explosive style of football.” Savage started his managerial career at Macclesfield, whom he steered to promotion to National League North before moving to Forest Green in 2025. He is expected to meet the players for the first time on Sunday before taking charge for Tuesday’s Football League Trophy tie against Ipswich Under-21s. Peterborough chair Darragh MacAnthony said, “Excitement is the word I can use to describe the appointment of Robbie Savage as our new manager – a word I personally haven’t used about our football club for too long. His personality, character and mindset is something we need top to bottom. Nobody will work harder to get us up and running again than Robbie. The board were blown away by him in an extensive interview, and his hunger to fix our issues and get confidence back into our talented squad is what I am most excited by.”
Our take
Right, so Peterborough United are in the shit, second from bottom, and their brilliant fucking plan is to hire Robbie Savage. A man whose managerial career highlights consist of getting Macclesfield promoted to National League North and then… taking Forest Green Rovers to… well, still the National League. This is like hiring a lifeguard whose only experience is saving a rubber duck in a bathtub to patrol a fucking shark tank.
Savage’s opening statement was a masterclass in pre-emptive victimhood. 'Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but all I want is a chance.' He then launched into his greatest hits: 'When I was released by Manchester United I was told I wasn’t good enough… Nobody’s given me anything in this world.' Robbie, mate, nobody is arguing that you haven’t *worked hard* at being a mediocre footballer and a completely unproven manager. The issue is that Peterborough need a fucking miracle worker, not a professional grievance-holder with a passion for 'explosive style' football that will probably explode their own defence into relegation.
The chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, said the board were 'blown away' by Savage in an interview. Blown away by what? His ability to recite a 20-year-old sob story about not making it at United? His 'mindset'? They’ve confused a motivational seminar for a fucking recruitment process. They’re excited because Savage is passionate and emotional. Terrific. So is a toddler having a tantrum because his biscuit broke. That’s not a management strategy.
So Savage gets to meet the players on Sunday before his big debut on Tuesday… against Ipswich’s fucking Under-21s in the Football League Trophy. That’s the level we’re at. The man is being handed the keys to a burning car and his first test drive is around a quiet cul-de-sac. Judge him when they start playing football, he says. We will, Robbie. We’ll judge the absolute piss-taking, cuntish chaos that follows when your 'explosive' philosophy meets the cold, hard reality of professional footballers who know a bullshit artist when they see one.
