TNT Sports commentator reveals struggle of new life as a manager where ‘people would like me to fail’
ROBBIE SAVAGE has one huge regret about his move into football management.
“I should have done it earlier as I love it,” declared Savage who celebrates a landmark 50th birthday on Friday.
It has been a seamless switch from radio and television pundit to the dugout for Savage who was appointed head coach at Macclesfield FC in June.
The unbeaten Silkmen moved four points clear at the top of Northern Premier League, Premier after their 4-1 midweek win at home to third-placed Hebburn Town.
And in 17 league and cup games there has only been one loss which was at Tamworth, a team two divisions higher up the pyramid, in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.
He said: “I am delighted with the start with 10 wins and two draws and being unbeaten in 12 league games – the best start to a season Macclesfield have ever had since 1874.
“I believe we can do even better – that is the frightening thing about this squad.”
Savage, who is also a director having bought a stake in the phoenix club which was born in 2020 after Macclesfield Town was wound up in the High Court, believes he was destined to move into management.
He said: “When I was working as a pundit for TNT, I was like a sponge listening to Glenn Hoddle, Rio [Ferdinand], Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes and managers like Harry Redknapp.
“I always noted things down when I was listening to them as I did with the managers I worked under.”
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Savage admitted it is an even tougher gig because of the colourful character he is.
He continued: “There are a lot of people, as you know, who would like me to fail, and I know there is a lot of pressure on me.
“I am new to management and still learning. I am trying to control my emotions which is hard when your side is missing chances.
“I don’t try to get too high or too low. It is hard because you care and because a win here means more because of the responsibility.”
On management, Savage said: “I enjoy being on the grass and around the lads and enjoy the management side and the tactics.
“We played 3-4-1-2 against Hebburn with the wingers high as we take risks at the back.
“I wanted to create an exciting brand of football which is why I was brought in, but also a winning one. I also believe we should be able to score over 100 goals this season.”
‘We can win the league’
Striker Danny Elliott is in a red-hot scoring streak with eight goals in the last five matches.
“Danny is an example of where we are because we have the capabilities to invest in a great squad, a together squad and the players enjoy playing. We also have the fans on board,” said Savage.
Since Macclesfield FC was formed in 2020, they have won two promotions in three seasons – they narrowly missed making it three out of three when they were beaten in the Northern Premier League, Premier play-off final by Marine in May having finished runners-up to Radcliffe.
This season Macclesfield and Worksop Town are vying for top spot and Savage said: “I think only Worksop and ourselves can win the league, and it is a two-horse race already.
“We have to play them at home on January 6 which will be a huge, huge game, especially for who wins it.
“Our goal is to finish first as we don’t want to put ourselves through the play-offs like last season.
“We were the second-best team, but you know anything can happen in the play-offs and in the final we didn’t play to our capabilities and Marine deserved to go up.
“We have to win the league because the team which finishes second could have a record points total for second and then lose out in the play-offs.”