“He wasn’t doing bad, but I don’t think he was giving the best representation of himself.”
Charlie McCann was named EFL League Two player of the month for September after the midfielder netted five goals in five games for The Robins.
McCann’s Head Coach, Steve Cotterill, who was nominated for manager of the month was full of praise for the 24-year-old and how he’s evolved as a player.
Cotterill mentioned, “I watch Charlie closely, he’s a lot more grown up now and I like that.”
The experienced head coach first managed McCann in 2024 for local rivals Forest Green Rovers.
At the time McCann was 22 years old and had spent a year at the club after joining from Rangers.
Since then, McCann made the switch to Cheltenham Town from Forest Green Rovers as he joined Cotterill, who had re-joined the Gloucestershire outfit in September 2025 after a tricky period where The Robins were last.
Under Cotterill, Cheltenham avoided relegation and have had a flying start to the 2026/27 campaign currently occupying fourth on 15 points.
“I speak a lot when I talk about Charlie maturing, I would always be on him, how he needs to act more responsible.”
The former Bristol City head coach seemed slightly emotional when he shared “his Dad said to me, I’m glad Charlie’s signing for you because you’ll keep on top of him. I was almost like a parent I suppose. I took that as a compliment.”
He added: “Charlie’s had a couple of knock back’s that’s made him take a step back.
“Now, I can’t speak highly enough of him, I love him, I love Charlie.”
The 62-year-old gave credit to McCann saying, “It’s all down to him, you can only bring a horse to water.”
Cotterill ended by saying “Maybe a few years ago and maybe away from me he would have been a bit of a scallywag.
“He’s still got that little scallywag in him, but you can’t take all of the scallywag out of him.”
Cheltenham’s next fixture is against Salford who currently sit top of the table just one point above Cotterill’s side.
However, McCann will be unable to feature due to a red card he picked up in his last game against Accrington Stanley in a refereeing decision Cotterill called “very poor.”
