" Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:37 pm
New Cardiff City manager twist as Orient boss confirms he was ready to sack Russell Slade...only to claim he didn't mean it!
Friday Sep 26, 2014
By Terry Phillips
Leyton Orient owner Francesco Bechetti told players he may have to 'remove Russell' but maintains he never planned to go through with threat.
The Russell Slade for Cardiff City saga took a new twist after Leyton Orient owner Francesco Bechetti confirmed he told the players he was going to sack his manger... only to then claim he didn’t really mean it.
Bechetti, who is playing hard ball with the Bluebirds over a compensation package for Slade, outlined his stance in match programme notes written before Orient’s midweek League Cup defeat to Sheffield United.
Less than 24 hours after that game, Slade tendered his resignation as Orient boss in a bid to force through the move to the Welsh capital after three bids by Vincent Tan to open official talks were rebuffed by Bechetti.
Salde is still Tan’s number one target, but complications have delayed the Bluebirds landing their man and caretaker bosses Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon continue in charge of the game against Sheffield Wednesday.
The Bluebirds will hope to have Slade in position in time for next week’s away games at Brighton and Blackpool, but there are still issues to resolve before that can happen.
Orient have put the matter in the hands of their legal team, claiming Slade’s resignation after Cardiff’s interest in him became known was no coincidence.
Reports say Slade has countered by claiming Orient were offering his job to other managers anyway.
Cardiff have agreed to pay the £100,000 release clause that was in Slade’s Orient contract, but for the time being there is still a stand-off.
Matters were confused further with Bechetti’s programme notes when he admitted Slade was told he was in danger of being sacked following a 2-0 home defeat against 10-man Colchester, but then insisted he never planned to go through with the threat.
The Orient owner also says he turned down a request from Tan for Slade to fly to Malaysia for talks about the Bluebirds job and insists: “I believed blindly in Russell and until proven otherwise I continue to believe in his honesty.”
It’s unclear whether Slade will be in the director’s box for Cardiff’s Championship home match against Sheffield Wednesday, but Young and Gabbidon definitely take charge of the team.
While they do that, their former Bluebirds team-mate Kevin Nugent takes charge of the O’s for their match at home to Rochdale. Nugent, of course, could yet join Slade on Cardiff’s coaching staff if he is appointed manager, but, for this game at least he is committed to Orient.
Bechetti, who made his fortune in waste disposal and recycling, gave his side of things in his programme notes, saying the saga really began after Orient’s 2-0 home defeat against Colchester.
“At the end of that game I sent Mauro Milanese (Orient sporting director) into the locker room to express disappointment with the leadership on the defeat, but especially for the way we lost,” wrote Bechetti.
“The message was: if in the next match there was no redemption we would be forced to remove Russell Slade from his position and that any responsibility would be with the team itself.
“Just after Milanese left the changing room, I see that Russell repeated to the Press what was said in the dressing room. I have to say that it left me puzzled. I have always believed that anything said in the changing room is covered by secrecy enshrined in a pact of iron inviolability between players, the coach and the club.
“I had a private meeting with Russell during which we delved into many subjects and the question of whether or not Russell was the coach for Orient. I replied that this was not an issue.
“I thought I had to give a wake up jolt and so I gave one, such as it was, but, as I said at the press conference, for me it is wrong to dismiss a coach during the season and even then I would only do it in extreme cases.
“In fact the team did not win the game on the following Tuesday, but I didn’t relieve Russell of his post regardless of the pressure from the press.
“There are times when the president must have strength to take unpopular decisions even against everyone and in the moment of need I have that strength inside.
“Then, a few days after, I was informed by a lawyer to consent to the transfer of Russell to Cardiff, consent to which I denied authorisation.
“Then I received an authorisation request for Russell to go directly to Malaysia after our match to speak with the owner of Cardiff. Permission which I denied.
“Someone might think that rushing to tell the press what happened in the locker room could be linked to the interests of Cardiff, while instead I believed blindly in Russell and until proven otherwise I continue to believe in his honesty.”
While Tan and the staff close to him continue working on appointing Cardiff’s next manager, Young and Gabbidon have continued their own work of preparing the team for the Championship clash with Wednesday, who have kept seven clean sheets already this season and have the best away record in the division.
Friday Sep 26, 2014
By Terry Phillips
Leyton Orient owner Francesco Bechetti told players he may have to 'remove Russell' but maintains he never planned to go through with threat.
The Russell Slade for Cardiff City saga took a new twist after Leyton Orient owner Francesco Bechetti confirmed he told the players he was going to sack his manger... only to then claim he didn’t really mean it.
Bechetti, who is playing hard ball with the Bluebirds over a compensation package for Slade, outlined his stance in match programme notes written before Orient’s midweek League Cup defeat to Sheffield United.
Less than 24 hours after that game, Slade tendered his resignation as Orient boss in a bid to force through the move to the Welsh capital after three bids by Vincent Tan to open official talks were rebuffed by Bechetti.
Salde is still Tan’s number one target, but complications have delayed the Bluebirds landing their man and caretaker bosses Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon continue in charge of the game against Sheffield Wednesday.
The Bluebirds will hope to have Slade in position in time for next week’s away games at Brighton and Blackpool, but there are still issues to resolve before that can happen.
Orient have put the matter in the hands of their legal team, claiming Slade’s resignation after Cardiff’s interest in him became known was no coincidence.
Reports say Slade has countered by claiming Orient were offering his job to other managers anyway.
Cardiff have agreed to pay the £100,000 release clause that was in Slade’s Orient contract, but for the time being there is still a stand-off.
Matters were confused further with Bechetti’s programme notes when he admitted Slade was told he was in danger of being sacked following a 2-0 home defeat against 10-man Colchester, but then insisted he never planned to go through with the threat.
The Orient owner also says he turned down a request from Tan for Slade to fly to Malaysia for talks about the Bluebirds job and insists: “I believed blindly in Russell and until proven otherwise I continue to believe in his honesty.”
It’s unclear whether Slade will be in the director’s box for Cardiff’s Championship home match against Sheffield Wednesday, but Young and Gabbidon definitely take charge of the team.
While they do that, their former Bluebirds team-mate Kevin Nugent takes charge of the O’s for their match at home to Rochdale. Nugent, of course, could yet join Slade on Cardiff’s coaching staff if he is appointed manager, but, for this game at least he is committed to Orient.
Bechetti, who made his fortune in waste disposal and recycling, gave his side of things in his programme notes, saying the saga really began after Orient’s 2-0 home defeat against Colchester.
“At the end of that game I sent Mauro Milanese (Orient sporting director) into the locker room to express disappointment with the leadership on the defeat, but especially for the way we lost,” wrote Bechetti.
“The message was: if in the next match there was no redemption we would be forced to remove Russell Slade from his position and that any responsibility would be with the team itself.
“Just after Milanese left the changing room, I see that Russell repeated to the Press what was said in the dressing room. I have to say that it left me puzzled. I have always believed that anything said in the changing room is covered by secrecy enshrined in a pact of iron inviolability between players, the coach and the club.
“I had a private meeting with Russell during which we delved into many subjects and the question of whether or not Russell was the coach for Orient. I replied that this was not an issue.
“I thought I had to give a wake up jolt and so I gave one, such as it was, but, as I said at the press conference, for me it is wrong to dismiss a coach during the season and even then I would only do it in extreme cases.
“In fact the team did not win the game on the following Tuesday, but I didn’t relieve Russell of his post regardless of the pressure from the press.
“There are times when the president must have strength to take unpopular decisions even against everyone and in the moment of need I have that strength inside.
“Then, a few days after, I was informed by a lawyer to consent to the transfer of Russell to Cardiff, consent to which I denied authorisation.
“Then I received an authorisation request for Russell to go directly to Malaysia after our match to speak with the owner of Cardiff. Permission which I denied.
“Someone might think that rushing to tell the press what happened in the locker room could be linked to the interests of Cardiff, while instead I believed blindly in Russell and until proven otherwise I continue to believe in his honesty.”
While Tan and the staff close to him continue working on appointing Cardiff’s next manager, Young and Gabbidon have continued their own work of preparing the team for the Championship clash with Wednesday, who have kept seven clean sheets already this season and have the best away record in the division.
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:41 pm
Shocking.
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:51 pm
£Money, £Money, £Money! 
At least it confirms what was said elsewhere, i.e. Leyton Orient (or their owner) is looking to 'milk' Cardiff City FC for every penny it can when it was THEY who made Russell Slade aware he wasn't really part of their plans
Slade will be installed over the weekend and (hopefully) in time to be announced before kick off, but either way I am expecting a sudden rise in commitment from certain players now fighting for their places!
At least it confirms what was said elsewhere, i.e. Leyton Orient (or their owner) is looking to 'milk' Cardiff City FC for every penny it can when it was THEY who made Russell Slade aware he wasn't really part of their plans
Slade will be installed over the weekend and (hopefully) in time to be announced before kick off, but either way I am expecting a sudden rise in commitment from certain players now fighting for their places!
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 4:57 pm
Sven wrote:£Money, £Money, £Money!
At least it confirms what was said elsewhere, i.e. Leyton Orient (or their owner) is looking to 'milk' Cardiff City FC for every penny it can when it was THEY who made Russell Slade aware he wasn't really part of their plans
Slade will be installed over the weekend and (hopefully) in time to be announced before kick off, but either way I am expecting a sudden rise in commitment from certain players now fighting for their places!
Exactly Chris.
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:04 pm
Lol what a wanker
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:09 pm
I can't see how they would get a penny now as Slade has said he had no choice to leave as they threatened him with the sack and now the Orient owner has admitted this
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:51 pm
They ain't stupid Chief 
fair play to them. Cardiff City are being made a laughing stock AGAIN
fair play to them. Cardiff City are being made a laughing stock AGAIN
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:17 pm
The Owner undermining the manager to the squad made Slade's position untenable in my opinion. I hope Orient get f**k all
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:29 pm
Nuclearblue wrote:They ain't stupid Chief
Don't see that, Nukes, in fairness. City appear to have gone after their man and got him!
I said elsewhere on here today that the club believe they have triggered all the release requirements and that Leyton Orient are simply trying to extort money from what they see as a rich club!
Let's see if they (Orient) now get the compensation that was in Slade's contract, as they have now cheesed the City off enough for them to take a stance; hence the delay in signing his contract!
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:44 pm
Sven wrote:Nuclearblue wrote:They ain't stupid Chief
Don't see that, Nukes, in fairness. City appear to have gone after their man and got him!
I said elsewhere on here today that the club believe they have triggered all the release requirements and that Leyton Orient are simply trying to extort money from what they see as a rich club!
Let's see if they (Orient) now get the compensation that was in Slade's contract, as they have now cheesed the City off enough for them to take a stance; hence the delay in signing his contract!
Sven they was on the verge of sacking him. So we come along and boom compo time. If they waited for him to be sacked then fair enough. But we only became interested in Slade when Jones turned down the DOF and then Roader wanted that position and he wanted Slade. May be shrewd and he could be a top boss. But why hasn't he been snapped up before at his age. And I'm pissed off I lost out on over a grand
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:01 pm
Nuclearblue wrote:Sven wrote:Nuclearblue wrote:They ain't stupid Chief
Don't see that, Nukes, in fairness. City appear to have gone after their man and got him!
I said elsewhere on here today that the club believe they have triggered all the release requirements and that Leyton Orient are simply trying to extort money from what they see as a rich club!
Let's see if they (Orient) now get the compensation that was in Slade's contract, as they have now cheesed the City off enough for them to take a stance; hence the delay in signing his contract!
Sven they was on the verge of sacking him. So we come along and boom compo time. If they waited for him to be sacked then fair enough. But we only became interested in Slade when Jones turned down the DOF and then Roader wanted that position and he wanted Slade. May be shrewd and he could be a top boss. But why hasn't he been snapped up before at his age. And I'm pissed off I lost out on over a grand
Nukes, I agree with what you say there!
But once they knew of our interest they could only see £ s d and no-one is 100% that they would have sacked him if results had picked up. However, the compo involved is relatively small in football terms, so City decided to pay that. It is Orient that have been greedy and City (rightly) have said "Go forth...!"
I'm rarely ITK, but occasionally information falls into my lap through certain financial connections with the club and the latest word is that it'll all be sorted soon (maybe even by KO on Saturday) and the 'official' announcement will be made ASAP
Tan is said to be VERY happy at landing his man and is determined that he should succeed. Tan, apparently, is not as "hands on" as some think. However, he has given Slade a blueprint for how he wants the club to go forward (not divulged to me, TBH) and is determined it will be carried out, so I guess we can read into that whatever suits
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:05 pm
Tan wanted Cooper but he had to go with what his DOF wants. But I have also heard that Tan is very hands on when it comes to team selection. Apparently it used to piss OLe right off
Re: " Owner Says I did not mean it "
Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:06 pm
Nuclearblue wrote:They ain't stupid Chief
Oh they ARE (he is) stupid and arrogant too.
After admitting he'd told him to go he won't have a leg to stand on.
I reckon Slade will win a constructive dismissal case-if it gets that far.
Ironic now how our new manager is going to the same LMA who's chairman our club wanted sacked
for support. 