As we reported yesterday, Cheltenham Town have now appointed Steve Cotterill as manager on a three-year contract, sealing an emotional return more than two decades after his first spell in charge.
The 61-year-old takes over with the Robins bottom of League Two after a difficult start that included a 7–1 defeat at Grimsby Town and the dismissal of Michael Flynn on 20 September.
A club icon back at Whaddon Road
Cotterill’s comeback follows extensive talks in recent days and arrives 23 years after he departed for Stoke City in the Championship. His first tenure between 1997 and 2002 brought unprecedented success, including three promotions, the FA Trophy in 1998 and a run to the FA Cup last sixteen in 2001/02.
Since leaving, he has managed Burnley, Notts County, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, lifting the League One title and EFL Trophy with the Robins of Ashton Gate in 2014/15, and winning League Two with Notts County in 2009/10.
Cheltenham’s hierarchy framed the appointment as a decisive step to arrest the slide after four points from ten games. Chairman David Bloxham credited new owner Mike Garlick’s backing as pivotal to the deal and urged supporters to rally behind the team as Cotterill begins work immediately at the training ground.
“I am very pleased to confirm that Steve Cotterill is returning to us as manager.”
“The club would not have been in a position to appoint Steve without Mike’s full support.”
Immediate priorities and backroom tweaks
Cotterill will appoint his own assistant, with Aaron Downes stepping down from the role after a testing interim period. The new boss inherits a squad short on confidence and bodies following recent suspensions and injuries, and must quickly impose structure and belief before Saturday’s home fixture against Fleetwood Town.
With the division still in its early stages, Cheltenham emphasised there is ample time to turn results around if stability is restored.
Context of the task
Results have unravelled since August, culminating in the heavy loss at Blundell Park while reduced to nine men. Beyond morale, Cotterill must address defensive fragility and improve productivity in the final third. Recruitment outside the window is limited, placing emphasis on coaching improvements, set-piece gains and sharper game management.
The new ownership structure, coupled with a manager who understands Cheltenham’s identity, provides a platform to reset standards on and off the pitch.
Writer’s View
This is a pragmatic, high-upside appointment. Cotterill’s history guarantees instant authority and clarity of method, qualities Cheltenham badly need. Sentiment alone will not secure points, but a proven organiser with deep club affinity can accelerate buy-in and discipline.
The immediate yardsticks will be compactness without the ball, cleaner set-pieces and braver, simpler patterns in possession. If early performances show those markers, momentum can follow and a climb from the bottom becomes realistic. Fleetwood at home is an ideal early barometer.
