Robbie Savage was recently unveiled as the new manager of League Two side Forest Green Rovers, one year after he appointed himself as boss of Macclesfield
08:03, 07 Jul 2025
Robbie Savage, Manager of Forest Green Rovers gives his team instructions during the pre-season friendly match between Slimbridge AFC and Forest Green Rovers at Thornhill Park on July 04, 2025 in Gloucester, England
Robbie Savage is now the manager of Forest Green Rovers(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
A football manager at Macclesfield who was relieved of his services by Robbie Savage has said the club will be "better" now the ex-Manchester United player has gone.
Savage, 50, was recently unveiled as the new boss of League Two outfit Forest Green Rovers. This move comes a year after he appointed himself as head coach of the Silkmen and four years after joining the board of the reformed side.
Before stepping into the dugout, Savage served as director of football at Macclesfield. One of his big decisions was parting ways with predecessor Michael Clegg before deciding to manage the club himself.
In his sole season at the helm, Macclesfield dominated the Northern Premier League, clinching the title by a whopping 26 points and securing promotion to the National League North – the sixth tier of English football. Despite pledging just last month to stick with the Silkmen by extending his contract for another two years, Savage ultimately resigned as both head coach and director of football, though he remains a part-owner of the club.
Upon confirmation of his departure, Clegg took to Twitter to share his thoughts. He posted: "A massive day for Macc (Macclesfield). They are now in a better position than ever... this club will fly now."
Responding to another fan on social media, Clegg reiterated his sentiment, writing: "My life since Macc has been amazing. From office staff to players to maintenance men. There will be a party tonight. Trust me."
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Clegg, who took the reins at Macclesfield in February 2024, was on the brink of promotion in the NPL Premier play-off final, but a 2-1 defeat to Marine dashed their hopes. Despite rumours suggesting Clegg was given the boot, he told the Bolton News it was a mutual decision and that the club were happy to keep him in situ.
Michael Clegg while he was the manager of Macclesfield FC
Clegg is now the manager of Atherton Collieries(Image: MacclesfieldFC/X)
Now at the helm of Atherton Collieries, Clegg said last year: "Working at a club of that size it's a lot of phone calls from agents, there was always something, but I just always had a feeling that I wouldn't start the season, whether that was for me or from their side. I was right.
"Everything dragged on longer than it should have done. I wasn't an angel, and I could have handled it better. I didn't need to leave the club.
"A lot of people thought I got sacked but the club was keen for me to stay but the terms of my work there were different to the terms of my contract, and that is what I wasn't happy with.
Robbie Savage’s Macclesfield FC win promotion to the next tier after beating Bamber Bridge at home. Robbie relaxed before the match
Savage guided Macclesfield to promotion to the National League North(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
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"Absolutely nothing to do with money, anything but, more that the conditions they wanted me to work under were a no-go. I got on really well with the board, well, there was only one person I didn't get on with, but once they knew how torn that relationship was it proved impossible to carry on."
Shortly after Savage's departure, Macclesfield unveiled John Rooney – younger sibling of United icon Wayne – as their new manager. Having spent the previous two years as a player for the club, Rooney will now step up as the head coach.
He will be backed by a support team comprising of Nigel Keogh, Peter Band and Anthony Curran.