" It wasn't a bad joke, CCFC approach Slade ........ "

WalesOnline has been told by club sources an approach has been made for the Orient manager


Sat 20th Sept 2014


Cardiff City have made a shock approach to Leyton Orient to speak to manager Russell Slade, WalesOnline can confirm.

Slade suggested the Bluebirds had made contact with the League One club following the O's 2-1 win away to Scunthorpe.

Cardiff sources had initially suggested there was little in links with Slade as the odds tumbled on the 53-year-old becoming next Bluebirds boss.

But WalesOnline has now been told by senior people at the club that he IS in the frame.


Slade, who has never managed above the third-tier of English football, does not fit the profile of the “young and hungry” manager said to have been targeted as Vincent Tan led a search to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However it is now clear that Tan and his advisors have identified Slade as a potential candidate following a failed bid to lure Dundee's Paul Hartley to South Wales.

Slade has been under pressure at his current job with Orient after a slow start to the season but has enjoyed some success in previous seasons.

The move is unlikely to go down well with supporters after an initial clamour to install popular choice Tony Pulis in the role, despite no suggestions from the club or the Newport-born former Stoke and Palace boss that there would be an interest in the vacancy.

Would you be happy with Russell Slade as manager?
YES
NO

And it is another stunning development at the club with Slade coming in from nowhere to be in contention for the job having been on the brink of the sack at Brisbane Road.

However, speaking after his side's game at Scunthorpe, Slade said: “I think they (Cardiff City) may have requested permission to talk to me but I'm uncertain- I am a little in the dark.

“But it is nice to be associated with such a big club like Cardiff. I'm very proud of the fact that they have seen the good work we've done here.”

Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young, who were placed in temporary charge for the Bluebirds' game against Derby, insisted they had received no further information about how long they are to stay in their roles as they awaited conversations with owner Tan and chairman Mehmet Dalman. Tan was absent from the game although Dalman and general manager Ken Choo were both at Pride Park.

Gutting. No point the club sending me a season ticket renewal form

If you want cardiff to plumet to new depths slade is the answer go down like a lead balloon by cty fans

Surely this is a wind up

Ffs

Check on twitter with the hash tag #lofc

They are all wishing him well, always be a legend etc etc, he's on the way it seems.

Just when you think things can't get any worse............

Is tan pissing himself laughing at us?

He's done well in the lower leagues.

Let's get behind him before we criticise him before he's even got the job!

Notts County
Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager in January 1995, Slade stayed on as his assistant.

Sheffield United
Slade was then appointed manager of Midland Alliance side Armitage, then moving on to Southern Football League side Leicester United before having two separate spells as caretaker manager at Sheffield United.

Scarborough
Slade's first permanent managerial post was at Football Conference side Scarborough. When he arrived in November 2001 the club were adrift at the bottom of the Conference and looking doomed. His first match in charge resulted in a home win over Farnborough Town but the next three games yielded just one point. However a remarkable run of 39 points from the final 19 games of the season meant Scarborough finished 12th. He was hailed as a hero by the fans and his stock rose when taking the team to 4th position by Christmas in the 2002–03 season. In January 2003, two days after the club went into administration, Slade tendered his resignation. The fans presented a tearful Slade with a petition at the next game and on the Monday morning he changed his mind.

The following season saw mixed league performances, but a tremendous FA Cup run which saw victories over Hinckley United, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, and finally Southend United following a replay, meant a glamorous home tie in front of Premier League Chelsea. Despite losing 1–0 Slade's side had put up a tremendous battle.

Grimsby Town
At the end of the 2003–04 season Grimsby Town decided not to renew the contract of manager Nicky Law following relegation into League Two. Slade was appointed as their new manager.[7] A midtable finish ensued in the 2004–05 season but despite some disgruntled fans calling for his head, Grimsby spent most of the 2005–06 season in an automatic promotion spot in League Two, also managing to topple both Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur in the Football League Cup. Town eventually finished the season in 4th place and had to settle for the playoffs, following a late Northampton Town equalizer meant that Leyton Orient would finish the season in the final automatic promotion places. Despite guiding his team to a semi-final victory over local rivals Lincoln City, Slade was unable to secure promotion, Grimsby losing 1–0 in the final against Cheltenham Town in the Millennium Stadium.

Yeovil Town
Slade's success with Grimsby had attracted League One side Yeovil Town, and Slade was appointed as the Somerset club's new manager.[8] Slade led Yeovil to a surprise 5th place finish play-off finish in the league, where they defeated favourites Nottingham Forest to reach the play-off final. However, Yeovil lost the final against Blackpool 2–0.[9] Slade's successful first season at Yeovil saw him win the League One manager of the year award, and he was targeted by League One rivals Carlisle United and Millwall for their managerial positions but this interest was rejected by Yeovil chairman John Fry.[10]

Slade left his post at Yeovil on 16 February 2009, despite having won four consecutive matches immediately prior to this.[11] Slade had become frustrated with the club's lack of ambition, although the club chairman John Fry had previously stated that changes would be needed due to the current economic climate.[12]

Brighton & Hove Albion
On 6 March 2009, Slade was appointed manager of struggling Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season,[13] and succeeded in ensuring they avoided relegation from League One. Following that remarkable achievement, on 4 May 2009, Slade signed a further two-year contract at Brighton.[14]

Leyton Orient
Slade was appointed manager of Leyton Orient on 5 April 2010, six matches before the end of their season and with The club was in danger of being relegated from League One, but Slade managed to win the club 10 points from their last six matches, enough for Orient to avoid relegation by a single point. Slade was rewarded with a new two-year contract on 14 May[15] and the following season he guided Orient to seventh place, one point outside the play-off places, as well as a fifth round replay at Arsenal in the FA Cup. During the season, Orient chairman Barry Hearn rejected an approach from Barnsley for Slade.

Slade was unable to build on previous season's promise during the 2011–12 season and the club finished in 20th, but the next season he was able to guide Orient to another 7th-place finish.

On 7 June 2013, Leyton Orient announced that Slade, his assistant Kevin Nugent and chief scout Kevin Dearden had signed contract extensions to keep them at the club for a further three years, until the end of the 2015–16 season.[16]

The 2013-14 season was Slade's most successful as he led the club to the Play-Off Final where they were runners up after a penalty shoot out. It was a record-breaking season though as Orient recorded their best ever start to a season and highest ever points tally. Slade twice won the Manager of the Month award and was named as the League 1 Manager of the Year.

I would welcome this appointment he is a man manager is what we need someone to give the players a good kick up the arse and slades is that type of manager it's not about big names it's about ability.

Spade has been on a fine line with Leyton Orient so why do the Hierachy think he's the answer for us. If he did get appointed I'd hope he can prove me wrong but this speculation doesn't fill me with confidence. Surely there are better managers out there with experience. Seems Pulis would be the fans choice but don't think Tan wants him so what about the likes of:- Di Matteo, Tim Sherwood, Glenn Hoddle, David Moyes, Steve Clarke or even Zola. I'd have any of these before Slade.

All I can say is f**k me the structure at ccfc is non existent just like the relationship with us fans and the club.apointing slade would further damage us as a club.
Tan is unbelievable it just gets worse.

*Slade

Sky bet have closed all betting on the next city manager it looks like its him they will all follow now

Other than his start this season he aint been a bad manager at all for them..

Seem we need to give ppl the chance.. not slate them when we no nout really about him

If he's such a good manager how come he's never managed above tier 3 in over 20 years of management?

He,s about to be fired by the O,s so he will be delighted if we appoint him, and so will Leyton Orient as they won't have to pay his contract up and save themselves about £100k. As opposed to the £2.5 million we paid Ole to sort his contract out

I'm in complete shock

I'm in complete shock

Pinch me. I'm hoping it's a dream

Horrific option......

Not good enough for orient at the mo, yet good enough for us! Says it all, if he is appointed , season ticket will this time go in a large bin where I can't get it back out! I have threatened and done this many times since the Malaysians came but have always managed to stay with us, this is the last straw for me when Pulis was in the wings.

Tony Pulis is available... Even Neil Lennon... Yet we go for someone like this... I'm so confused!!!

He could turn out to be an excellent manager for us but if he can't do well at orient at the moment - why are we looking at him!!?

Our club is a joke... If he is appointed, I will support the team and him but I won't feel very confident about our future right now!! Clear lack of ambition??? Hmmm....

Very under whelming appointment, if it's Slade, but we got to give the fella our 100% backing. You never know, he might surprise everyone and get us promoted.

Not good enough for orient at the mo, yet good enough for us! Says it all, if he is appointed , season ticket will this time go in a large bin where I can't get it back out! I have threatened and done this many times since the Malaysians came but have always managed to stay with us, this is the last straw for me when Pulis was in the wings.

There are some big clubs like Sheffield United in League 1, yet he nearly guided little Leyton Orient to promotion. Very harsh to say he's not good enough for them.

Very under whelming appointment, if it's Slade, but we got to give the fella our 100% backing. You never know, he might surprise everyone and get us promoted.

This guy has been a manager for over twenty years. Not a young new manager like ole. There is a reason he's never managed a top 3 tier side.

Very under whelming appointment, if it's Slade, but we got to give the fella our 100% backing. You never know, he might surprise everyone and get us promoted.

This guy has been a manager for over twenty years. Not a young new manager like ole. There is a reason he's never managed a top 3 tier side.

So are you gonna support the fella, or get on his back as soon as we get a bad result? I'm not happy about getting Slade, but we need to get behind him and the team.

I dont want certain managers at the club but whoever comes in i will give my support to. Our fans are the worse at judging people on the job they will do at cardiff before they even get here

Well I for one hope he gets the job, just got 6/4 with coral and lumped on!

Seriously though if this is the guy then let's just get behind him. Last season he was voted league one manager of the year and getting to the play off with unfancied orient. He's not my first choice but neither was Paul Hartley, Kevin cooper or terry burton. We would all have loved to see Pulis here but it's not going to happen. We just have to hope the board know what they are doing.

I went to a few Orient games last season at Brisbane road. They played some good football - seemed well organised but probably a bit too hoof and hope at times compared to what we want to see at CCFC

My choice was always Tony Pulis and the appointment of Slade hardly inspires me if it happens. But having said that I would give him a chance as I support Cardiff City and not a particular manager or coach. Still think Tan is making a huge mistake though.