Ex-Cardiff boss Slade leaves Bulls
FORMER Cardiff City boss Russell Slade has parted company with Hereford United after just five months at the Edgar Street helm, writes Gwyn Roberts.
Following lengthy discussions with chairman Andrew Graham on Monday, the decision was made for Slade to leave Hereford by mutual consent.
The verdict follows a run of one win in 14 league matches in National League North, with the team in 16th place and currently spiralling towards a relegation fight.
He was only appointed by the club as first-team manager on August 29, but having only won four games out of 19, the board felt they had to act. Following Slade’s departure, chairman Graham wanted said: “I’d like to thank Russell for his hard work during his time at Edgar Street and wish him well for the future.
“But he felt that “the existing commitments of Russell Slade do not meet with the current demands of this football club.”
Hereford’s fans were relatively supportive of the decision as they felt that the club was heading in the wrong direction and need a “safe pair of hands until the end of the season”.
Cardiff supporters will remember Slade for his tenure at the Cardiff City Stadium from 2014-2016, when he divided opinion among supporters.
■ STOKE City boss Michael O’Neill has insisted that he is determined to hold on to midfielder Joe Allen.
The Welshman is one of several first-team stars tipped to leave the Potteries before the end of the month, with West Ham seemingly leading the race for his signature.
Allen was reportedly watched by representatives from the Hammers during Stoke’s surprise win over Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion on Monday, with boss David Moyes a longterm admirer of the Wales star.
However, O’Neill is adamant that the former Swansea and Liverpool star isn’t going anywhere – as long as he can help it.
Speaking after the 1-0 win over the Baggies, he said: “That’s the thing about these rumours, they’re generally created by the media and then the media ask you about them.
“We know the quality that Joe has. That (the rumours) is something that’s been circulating for some while and we can’t control that.
“If a club comes in for players between now and the end of the window we obviously have to evaluate each situation as it comes.
“What we have managed to do is streamline the squad and I think we’ve managed to put a hungry group together with some of the younger players around it.”