‘Stay at home’: Former Portsmouth and Birmingham City boss issues bizarre request to supporters for cup trip
Former Pompey boss Steve Cotterill has issued a bizarre request to Cheltenham Town supporters.
Former Pompey boss Steve Cotterill has called for Cheltenham Town supporters to ‘stay at home’ for their Jersey Mike’s Trophy (EFL Trophy) showdown with Oxford United.
The Robins make the short trip to the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening looking to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
The Whaddon Road outfit could secure their top two spot in Southern Group A with a win over Aaron Ramsey’s side, who sit three points behind in third and have also played a game less.
Cotterill, who has previously won the tournament in 2015 with Bristol City, has not been shy to share his feelings towards the competition after the introduction of Premier League academy sides in 2016.
The head coach made wholesale changes to his side for their opening Group A fixture in September, before later putting out an almost full-strength side against Spurs’ U21s, which included Brazilian international Richarlison.
But after seeing off National League Halifax on Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup, which involved a number of first-team regulars, the Cheltenham boss is looking to make a number of alterations to his squad this evening.
Former Pompey boss’ bizarre request to supporters
In fact, Cotterall has told Robins supporters to ‘stay at home’ and does ‘not want anyone spending their money’ travelling to the Kassam Stadium for the EFL Trophy fixture.
Speaking to Gloucestershire Live, the ex-Pompey boss said: ‘We roll on to the midweek game now. We think about changing that team; there will be lots of changes in that.
‘So I would say to our supporters, anyone who is thinking of travelling: thanks very much, we really appreciate it if you are going to travel, but stay at home.
‘We are going to try and do well but stay at home on that.
‘We do not want anyone spending their money going down there in this game because there will be lots of changes.’
Steve Cotterill’s Pompey tenure
Cotterill was appointed Avram Grant’s successor in June 2010 following Pompey’s relegation from the Premier League.
During his first season at PO4, the 62-year-old had to cope with the club’s precarious financial position, including starting the season in administration.
He led the Blues to a 16th-placed Championship finish, which included an impressive six-game unbeaten run in March 2011.
Despite the purchases of the likes of Luke Varney, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Erik Huseklepp and Stephen Henderson that summer, Cotterill later quit Fratton Park in October 2011 to join Nottingham Forest.
He led Pompey to 19 wins in his 61-match tenure before spells in charge at the City Ground, Bristol City, Birmingham City, Shrewsbury Town, Forest Green and Cheltenham Town.