Dale aim to cash in on O’s drama
ROCHDALE hope to take advantage of a week of upheaval at Leyton Orient when they face the O’s at Brisbane Road today.
The home team’s preparations for the League One clash have been undertaken against the backdrop of manager Russell Slade’s potential move to Championship outfit Cardiff City.
Slade guided Orient to last season’s play-off final, which they lost on penalties to Rotherham, but his positon came under threat when Barry Hearn sold his 90 per cent stake to new club owner Francesco Becchetti in the summer.
Slade was told he was on the brink of the sack after taking six points from their first six league games.
But the O’s have since taken four points from six and denied Cardiff permission to talk to Slade about replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
And after Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss at home to Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup, Slade tendered his resignation before meeting Cardiff officials on Thursday.
His assistant, Kevin Nugent, has been put in charge for today’s match.
“It does sound like chaos has been taking place there,” said Dale’s assistant boss, Chris Beech.
“But at the same time it’s nothing to do with us.
“Whether Russell is manager or not, whether it’s right or not, there’s still going to be two teams of 11 players playing against each other and we need to continue to represent our beliefs, principles and values.
“If we do then we’ll have a chance of competing and getting a point, or even all three.”
Orient finished last term, with named League third Slade One manager of the year, and they looked set to challenge again this season when the likes of defender Shane Lowry, midfielder Jobi McAnuff and striker Darius Henderson moved down from the Championship, while ex-Arsenal and Hull winger Jay Simpson arrived after a stint in Thailand.