Steve Cotterill, the former manager of Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, and Portsmouth, is set to leave Forest Green Rovers after completing a transformative season at the helm.
Taking charge of the club in January 2024, when Forest Green was at the bottom of League Two following Troy Deeney’s brief tenure, Cotterill orchestrated a remarkable revival. Under his leadership, the team climbed to third place in the National League, ending the 2024/25 season with an impressive 83 points and suffering just seven defeats in 46 league matches.
Despite this success, Forest Green’s bid for an immediate return to the Football League faltered in the play-off semi-finals, where they lost to Southend United on penalties.
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Cotterill, aged 60, reached a milestone of 1,000 matches managed on March 15. His extensive career also includes spells at Sligo Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Stoke City, Burnley, Notts County, Birmingham City, and Shrewsbury Town.
In addition to Cotterill’s departure, chief scout Russell Milton is also anticipated to leave as Forest Green prepares for further restructuring behind the scenes, with Mark Bowen recently appointed as director of football on June 10.