Cotterill led Cheltenham to three promotions between 1997 and 2002

Former Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill has turned down an approach to return to Whaddon Road.

Cotterill led Town to the Football League for the first time in 1999 and is their most successful manager.

Town have set a deadline of Friday for applicants hoping to replace Martin Allen, who left the club last week.

Cotterill told BBC Radio Gloucestershire it had been a tough decision: "My heart told me 'yes' but my head told me 'no'."

He continued: "I love the club, I love walking from the car park to the ground and the supporters are always fantastic with me.

"I love walking into the boardroom and seeing all the guys I worked so closely with. It just brings back special memories and it was a tougher decision than people realise."

Cotterill was in charge of the Robins between 1997 and 2002 and led Town to promotion three times and an FA Trophy win, but he has been out of work since leaving Burnley in 2007.

But he said his next job had to be right for him.

"I've had some good offers but not quite what I wanted," he said.

"It's very much about a career for me, not job-hopping and jumping into jobs as and when they come along.

"It would be good to know that the next job I go into I can be a bit more of a winner.

"I would like to be at a club where I'm not so financially hamstrung. That's important to me."

Cotterill, who has been linked with the vacancy at Sheffield Wednesday, has offered his availability to Cheltenham as a sounding board in the selection process for finding a new boss.

"If anybody at the club wants to ask my advice I'd gladly help," he said.

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"I think there needs to be a profile drawn up, and not to necessarily look through the names and find either a big name or a rookie."

Chairman Paul Baker revealed there has already been a healthy level of interest in the job.

"We are naturally disappointed that Steve has declined our approach," he said.

"He remains a very good friend of the club and will always be remembered with huge admiration for the fantastic job he did for Cheltenham.

"But we've got some good candidates, including caretaker John Schofield who has thrown his hat into the ring.

"The Board will consider the applications and hopefully make the best decision we can, particularly bearing in mind our own financial restraints."

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