Bowen both played and managed in Berkshire as well as taking on crucial off-field roles in a 25-year association with the club.
Head of Football Operations during a critical period of the club’s history, supporting Ruben Selles during the penultimate year of Dai Yongge’s reign, the Welshman’s time at the club ended in somewhat controversial circumstances after the Football Association charged him with betting breaches.
Out of the game since leaving Bearwood in September 2024, the Norwich City legend was appointed Director of Football at National League Forest Green Rovers last week.
In his first broadcast interview since taking the role at the New Lawn, Bowen spoke of how conversations with the Royals midfielder Savage- who had a loan spell in Gloucestershire during 2022/23- helped confirm his decision.
“I took Charlie Savage into Reading and knew his dad, Rob, very well after taking him to Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers when I was there,” he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
“My first point of contact was to talk to Robbie about what he knew from being down here with Charlie. I spoke to Charlie and had only fantastic things to say about the club. That added to it. Nobody I spoke to said anything negative about the club.
“It’s an ambitious club with a high-profile because of Dale [Vince] and what it represents. I asked if there were any concerns about the club, no negativity from nobody.”
At the club during a tumultuous time, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the former Premier League regular wanted to be sure before returning to the game.
“I had four really stressful and difficult years at Reading in difficult circumstances, so it was important to me, wherever I was going to go, that it was a club on a good footing and a club that was ambitious to move forward.”
