Harvey seeks to create more magic

By Pete Oliver

Harvey's considerable experience has revitalised Rovers

Forest Green Rovers get another crack at FA Cup glory on Saturday - but manager Jimmy Harvey also has his eye on the bigger picture.

Rovers have already made club history by beating a Football League team for the first time by knocking Rotherham out of the competition.

Another shock at near neighbours Swindon Town would give the Blue Square Premier side a place in the third round for the first time.

And Harvey believes the benefit of that could have far-reaching consequences for a club already punching above its weight just below League Two status.

He told BBC Sport: "To have kept a club of this size with the fan base we have at this level, the chairman and the board have worked hard and done a sterling job.

"If we get to the third round we might get a bit more cash to help them and pay them back a bit.

"It would be massive for the club and we might see a bit of money to help develop the team and give us a fighting chance in the league."

That Rovers are even contemplating a promotion challenge is a remarkable effort by Harvey.

Based in the Gloucestershire village of Nailsworth, the club only went full-time a couple of years ago and is usually concerned with the other end of the table.

"Over the last couple of years Forest Green have avoided relegation in the last week of the season," said Harvey, who was appointed last September following a successful 12-year stint as Morecambe manager.

We want to win but win, lose or draw it will be a good learning experience for them Jimmy Harvey

"The priority was to get safe and if we can get enough points to do that by Christmas or New Year that will be a massive bonus for everybody.

"Everything is going extremely well and we are happy with things."

That joy hit new heights last week when Rovers went to Rotherham and won their first-round replay 3-0 to give the club arguably its greatest ever result.

The style of Forest Green's performance in beating a team from a division above and unbeaten in their previous 10 matches also had Harvey's phone buzzing with congratulations.

And the Northern Irishman hopes that effort will inspire his players both at Swindon and in the potentially crucial league matches to come.

He said: "For the squad to go away to Rotherham was a big test of character and they came through with flying colours.

"That experience will stand them in good stead for Saturday and the future and the tougher league games after Christmas.

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"Going to Swindon will be another great experience. We want to win but win, lose or draw it will be a good learning experience for them."

As a team sitting in the top half of League One and with home advantage, Swindon should start as warm favourites.

Off-setting that, though, could be the impact of manager Paul Sturrock's departure back to Plymouth and the backdrop of an on-going takeover saga.

Harvey, who should warrant consideration in Swindon's search for Sturrock's replacement, added: "In my experience players don't take an awful lot of notice of what's going on behind the scenes.

"For some of those who don't want to lose the manager it might be a disappointment. For others it might be a blessing in disguise.

"I don't think it will affect the players that much at all. But if there is anything to be gained we are in the right position to capitalise."

Rovers will also go armed with the leading goalscorer in the country in the shape of striker Stuart Fleetwood.

The former Wales under-21 international has scored 23 times this season since being signed by Harvey from Hereford United in the summer.

Three of those goals came in the games against Rotherham and the 21-year-old, who started his career at Cardiff City, also netted in Rovers' replay win over Eastleigh in the previous round.

"He has been scoring goals and grabbing the headlines," Harvey added. "When I was at Morecambe we always had people scoring goals and it shows how well we are playing as a team. Stuart is the fortunate one to be capitalising on it."

For Forest Green to be playing our neighbours Swindon is a big day for the village Jimmy Harvey

The scouts will again be out in force at the County Ground to watch Fleetwood in action but it will take a sizeable fee to prize him away from Rovers in January.

"There has been lots of speculation but no offers as such that have interested the club," said Harvey.

"If there was an offer that was right we would look at it. But he is contracted until the end of the season and we will have to wait and see."

Money matters but so too does FA Cup day itself and for 90 minutes at least the longer term plans can take a back seat as Harvey contemplates another notable episode in his Cup story.

Harvey was starting his playing career at Arsenal when the Gunners won the 1979 final and the 49-year-old went as far as the fifth-round of the competition as a player with Hereford when a Gary Lineker goal from Leicester City quashed that particular dream.

As a manager he twice guided Morecambe to the third round and collected the League scalps of Chesterfield and Cambridge United. Rotherham made it a hat-trick and the juices are flowing again.

"For Forest Green to be playing our neighbours Swindon is a big day for the village. It's something to look forward to. It's the magic of the FA Cup and everyone is excited about it," he enthused.