From WoL just over an hour ago: - http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-cardiff-city-boss-russell-11406561
Of the 4 clubs he's been linked with, Charlton, Blackburn, Rotherham. and Forest, Charlton were always the obvious potential destination. For a start they're the only club of the 4 in League 1 next season which is pretty much his level. His time spent in London with Orient would have given him a comfort factor with the area, and the Charlton owners are pretty much as batty as Tan was a couple of years back. The Charlton fans are fed up to the back teeth of the current regime and have shown their displeasure numerous times this past season. Slade should slot in there nicely and do a stabilising job on a club only going in one direction - and that's downwards again. I hope he gets it mainly for our sake to get him out of the club, but also to bring some reason to proceedings for the Charlton faithful who have always been a pretty good set from my past experience.
Leeds have sacked Steve Evans: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36420398 Could that be Russell's next destination? Why anyone would want to go and work for that mad Italian defeats me. He makes VT look ordinary. Karl Robinson has turned them down and Bristol Rovers manager, Darrell Clarke, has been given the best ever contract for a Gas manager to ward Leeds off. Would Russell relish that challenge?
A good result for everyone concerned. Charlton get a manager comfortable at that level (I know where a few of his first signings will be available from - always good to have a few players in your squad that you know), Slade gets his trackie bottoms on again and saves face (I thank Cardiff for their faith in me and appreciate them giving me an opportunity as Director of Football, but........), Tan is seen to have done the honourable thing by rewarding a trusted and faithful employee (we respect his decision to take up a more hands on role and thank him for his contribution in stabilising the club and getting us within reach of the playoffs.....) and Trollope gets a clear run at the job with no spectre shadowing him (I thank Russell for bringing me to the club and appreciated the opportunity to work under him - while he kept the seat warm for me). Good luck to big R. he came to the club in a difficult time and did what was asked of him (and a few that weren't, like signing a few journey men from below us, where they should have stayed). Just hope it comes to pass now.
To be fair Sparkey, the guy finished top ten twice in the championship (we were 17th when he took over, if my memory serves me well), which suggests he is easily championship level.
Whiffle - to be honest he probably is Championship level if you want to stay there, but to me that's not what the division is all about. Slade seems to ooze comfort zone appeal and that's not good enough for such a competitive league. If he did go to one of those other three Championship clubs he's been linked with, do you honestly expect him to lead any of them to promotion? He'd be odds on to keep them up but that's about all. Given his past record, any club in the Championship taking him on would be making that statement pretty obvious. As for him taking us on when we were 17th in the division, that was after only 8 games given to OGS that season and a nightmare few games scenario under Young and Gabbidon - finishing higher than that would have been a no brainer for any manager with his experience given the squad he inherited.
And DJ odds on to go to Blackpool: - http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-cardiff-city-boss-dave-11406768 Another board of directors mad as a box of frogs. The Oystons are as bad as Cellino at Leeds. Who on earth would want to work for them? DJ desperate? Although he has been out of football for a while he is still better than that.
When City unveiled Slade as the director of football, I was immediately convinced that he would never take up that post as I suspected that such a post doesn't really exist. City probably knew a club would come in and take him away to become their manager, which deep down will make Slade much happier back in his tracksuit and a baseball cap.
Gary Monk set to become manager at Leeds: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36433909 Good luck with that!!!!
One way to find out if he's any good or not. The Italian will probably sack him even if he's doing a good job!
Just had a little peek under the curtain at the Charlton board. Their understanding is that Russell is away on holiday this week (hanky on head, knotted in four corner - the hanky I mean, not his head, although you never know) and his appointment will be announced next week. They are split around 1/3 don't want him, 1/3 want him recognising the good things he has done with us and his ability to steady the ship and a 1/3 have lost the will to live so don't care. They are seriously unhappy bunnies over there.
Just stuck a post up on that Slade thread over there Bluey - just to stimulate a bit of conversation because there's eff all going on over here...... I've always liked Charlton as club and the fans are one of the best (if not the best) of the London clubs from my past experience (although that was some time ago). It's another club like Leeds, Blackburn, Blackpool who are suffering the consequences of poor ownership. The case at Leicester stands out like a beacon against that trend - I just hope we've gone through that scenario and now move forward with Tan still at the helm..
Not a minute too soon and about half a season too late. If we were going down this road with Trollope in charge anyway, he should have been handed the reins at Christmas. No guarantee he'd have done any better than Slade, but if that's the thinking for next season it could have been a great opportunity missed,
The worst kept secret is out. Russell appointed at Charlton on 3 year deal: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36460179 Good luck to him and them.
but because he resigned we won't get any compensation. Thought we might have got a few £M for losing our Head of Football.
