Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has accused Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony of personally contacting Robbie Savage before the club sought permission to approach the manager.
Vince made the allegation during a talkSPORT interview on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before becoming embroiled in a heated on-air exchange with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan.
Vince said he had recently learned that MacAnthony contacted Savage directly before Peterborough approached Forest Green for permission to speak with him.
The allegation adds a new dimension to the managerial dispute following Peterborough's dismissal of Luke Williams.
Forest Green, who compete in the National League, issued a statement in September saying they had granted permission for Peterborough to speak with Savage.
Vince said he had initially refused permission but later agreed after Peterborough approached the former Leicester and Blackburn midfielder directly.
Vince acknowledged that his earlier understanding of the sequence of events had been incorrect, explaining that new information had changed his view of MacAnthony's involvement.
"What I need to say to you is that I was wrong," Vince said on White and Jordan.
Vince then explained which aspects of his previous understanding he believed were mistaken, pointing to the timing of the initial contact and the Peterborough chairman's alleged involvement.
"I was wrong to think that Posh approached our manager after we refused permission.
And I was wrong to think Darragh may not know what's happening at his own club."
"I recently found out that the first approach to Robbie came before we were asked permission and it was made by Darragh himself," Vince said.
Vince provided further details about the alleged contact, placing it after a Forest Green match against Boston and approximately one week before Peterborough formally requested permission to speak with Savage.
"It was a phone call to our manager after our game against Boston.
It would've been a week before the first approach from Posh to us to ask for permission.
So before they asked for permission, the approach had been made," Vince added.
Vince later said Savage himself had disclosed the information to him. MacAnthony had not responded to the latest allegation in the source report.
The Peterborough chairman had previously denied wrongdoing, writing on X that the club's managerial recruitment process was conducted correctly and in accordance with the rules.
Forest Green does not plan to appoint a new manager immediately.
According to the club's reported plans, coaching duties will instead be handled by Josh Bowen, Yan Klukowski and Jonathan Gould.
On-air confrontation with Simon Jordan
The interview subsequently shifted from the managerial dispute to a personal confrontation between Vince and Jordan, who challenged Vince over the potential consequences of his allegation.
Jordan asked Vince what sanction he believed should follow from the alleged conduct.
Vince responded by questioning Jordan's knowledge of football, prompting the presenter to explain why he had raised the issue.
"So what's the sanction?" Jordan asked.
"I thought you were the expert on football," Vince replied.
Jordan said he was asking because Vince was directly involved in football and argued that someone making an allegation should have a view on the appropriate consequences.
"I'm asking you because you're currently in the game. I don't know what the sanction was.
If I knew what the sanction was, I wouldn't be asking you, would I?" Jordan said.
Vince said he did not know what sanction might apply. Jordan then questioned whether Vince had considered the consequences of making the allegation.
"I have no idea Simon," Vince said.
Jordan pressed the point, suggesting that Vince should have an opinion about the appropriate sanction if he wanted someone held accountable.
Vince then challenged Jordan over the nature of his questioning.
"I think that's probably consistent with a lot of things in your life.
But the point is, if you're going to make an allegation against someone, you want someone to be consequenced, surely you must have a view of the sanction," Jordan said.
Vince denied coming onto the program to discuss the matter with Jordan, saying he had intended to speak with co-host Jim White.
Jordan responded that he was also part of the interview.
"What's your problem?" Vince asked.
"I don't have a problem, Dale. If you want to be facetious, I can be equally facetious back," Jordan replied.
Vince then made clear that Jordan was not the person he had intended to address during the appearance.
"Truthfully Simon, I didn't come here to talk to you. I came here to talk to Jim," Vince said.
Jordan responded that Vince was speaking with him as well, leading to another exchange of insults between the two men.
"Well, you're talking to me as well," Jordan said.
"You're an unfortunate consequence," Vince replied.
"We have something in common then," Jordan said.
