Savage enhanced his managerial reputation further in Tuesday night’s 3-2 EFL Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s.
It was not even for the result, as Savage raised eyebrows with four substitutions in the first minute to exploit a loophole in the rules for National League Cup matches.
All clubs, barring those from the Premier League, must name at least four players who started the previous league game in their line-up.
Forward Tom Knowles, winger Kyle McAllister, left-back Neil Kengni, and centre-back Abraham Kanu took the pitch, but were all hauled off just one minute after kick-off – with the quartet now fresh for Saturday’s league trip to Woking and then another to Altrincham the following Tuesday night.
“I know it’s raised eyebrows and some people are saying it’s not right, but the competition’s great for our youngsters, but also our lads need minutes and there’s competitions we want to win,” Savage explained.
“For me, the most important thing is to be ready for the Saturday [league games].
“It’s [the EFL Cup] a competition that we’ve entered and we want to win and it’s a competition for our young players.
“But where it becomes a bit frustrating is that because you’ve made four subs in the first minute – when I’m giving minutes to the young lads who haven’t played regular football – I’ve only got one sub left for 89 minutes.
“So I think it’s [the regulations] stopping my young players play.”
Former Manchester United trainee Savage won 39 caps for Wales during a playing career that saw him play for club sides including Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County.
Despite his vast experience as a player, Savage says he doubts whether he will even manage at Premier League level.
“I’m a realist, I’m honest, I don’t think I’ll ever manage in the Premier League. Why? I just don’t think I will, I just don’t, because the type of character I am and the personality, you know,” he said.
“And this is why I’m so thankful for Dale [Vince, Forest Green owner]… because as a person, as somebody who’s owned a football club… there might be a fear factor of it employing me as a manager because I might be too big a character.
“They want to work with somebody of my character, you know, I’m going to embrace that.
“But I know I won’t manage in the Premier League. Could I manage in the Championship? Yes. Could I get there with Forest Green? A possibility because of the plans and the project they’ve got.
“And I I owe it to Dale, Mark [Bowen, director of football] and Asif [Rehmanwala, vice-chairman] to give my best for their football club because they’ve given me an opportunity, as I owe it to Rob Smethurst at Macclesfield because he gave me an opportunity and I repay people.
“I repay people, regardless of what people think of me, I don’t care.”
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