Ex-Pompey managers battling to avoid drop
They’re the former Pompey managers going head-to-head in the battle to keep their respective sides in the Football League.
And so far it’s advantage Steve Cotterill after a remarkable change of fortunes has lifted Forest Green out of the League Two relegation zone.
In the process, Danny Cowley’s Colchester now find themselves occupying the drop zone.
Cotterill was appointed Rovers boss in January. Rooted to the bottom of the table, they had recorded four wins all season and were six points adrift of safety.
However, Tuesday night’s
2-0 victory at Bradford marked a fourth win in seven matches, catapulting them out of the relegation places.
During Cotterill’s time in charge so far, the ex-Pompey manager has totalled 14 points from 10 games.
Meanwhile, life has been a little more difficult for Cowley in his first head coach job since departing Fratton Park in January 2023.
Replacing Matty Etherington at Colchester in early January, he and brother Nicky signed deals until the summer of 2026.
At the time, United were five points above the relegation zone.
The Cowleys have lost just two of their nine matches at the helm, although, crucially, have won just one. They’ve drawn six times, making it nine points from a possible 27.
Following Rovers’ win on Tuesday night, they now find themselves in the bottom two along with Sutton, but have two games in hand.
Incidentally, the relegation rivals met in February, with Colchester fighting back from a 2-0 deficit in a 3-3 draw at JobServe Community Stadium.