Robbie Savage Bypasses Rule by Making Four Substitutions in First Minute

Robbie Savage got around an unusual rule by making FOUR substitutions in the first minute of Forest Green Rovers' game against Wolves' Under 21 side on Tuesday.

Former TNT Sports pundit Savage is in his second managerial role, taking on the Forest Green job in July after a successful stint in charge of Macclesfield Town.

His side are currently second in the National League, with six wins, three draws and zero defeats in their first nine games.

On Tuesday, they turned their attentions to the National League Cup, a competition which also includes 16 academy sides from Premier League 2.

There are four groups of eight teams in a league phase, with all groups including four National League sides and four academy outfits.

All National League clubs play every academy side once at home and the top two from each group progress to the knockout stage.

Robbie Savage got around the strict rule implemented in the National League Cup. Image: Getty

To ensure they take the competition seriously, National League clubs are required to play a minimum of four players from their previous league fixture.

Only seven players can be changed but ex Leicester City and Wales midfielder Savage exploited a loophole.

With the rules adhered to with his team selection, the 50-year-old proceeded to take off four players in the opening minute.

Having started in the 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe, Tom Knowles, Kyle McAllister, Neil Kengni, and Abraham Kanu were all replaced - with Akai Bonnick, Will Merrett, Yahya Bamba and James Balagizi entering the fray.

The quartet barely touched the ball and Savage's clever bypass meant he effectively had a completely different starting XI for the fixture.

On X, the club wrote: Early switches for Rovers

Forest Green went on to win 3-2, with Jose Marquez, Isaac Moore, and Harry Cardwell all on target in the victory.

Savage is in his second managerial job. Image: Getty

They weren't alone in making early subs Rochdale as also made two changes seconds into their game against Blackburn Rovers.

Forest Green have won both of their National League Cup fixtures so far, beating a pair of west Midlands outfits in West Brom and Wolves.

Second in Group B, they will also face Leicester City and Nottingham Forest at the New Lawn in the coming weeks.