Dale Vince sues Peterborough and Robbie Savage for £2m over alleged illegal approach

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince is suing Peterborough United and their head coach Robbie Savage for £2 million in damages, alleging that an illegal approach was made to lure Savage away from the National League club earlier this month.

Vince confirmed the legal action in a television interview on Friday, stating that the £2m figure corresponds directly to the buyout clause written into Savage’s contract at Forest Green. “It’s not all sorted. It’s now gone legal and we are suing Peterborough and Robbie Savage for £2 million which was the buy out clause we were cheated out of,” Vince said.

The 65-year-old owner directed particular criticism at Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony, claiming that evidence of a direct approach by MacAnthony had emerged in recent weeks — even as the chairman publicly denied any such contact had taken place. “What has come to light in the last two weeks is an abundance of evidence of an approach made by the chairman of Peterborough himself, while he’s been denying any such approach was made,” Vince said. “That’s quite aggrieving really. I know people will say, ‘It’s just football’, but we shouldn’t just shrug our shoulders and allow badness to happen.”

Vince also addressed Forest Green supporters directly via his personal X account on Friday morning, describing the legal process as “hassle that we didn’t want” while confirming it had formally begun last week.

Savage took charge at Peterborough on 2 October, replacing Luke Williams following a difficult start to the League One season. Posh currently sit 21st in the third tier with two wins, four draws and six defeats from 12 games.

Forest Green, meanwhile, are 15th in the National League after 13 games, with five wins, five losses and three draws. The club face Harrogate Town at Eco Park on Saturday, 31 October.