Slade: We didn’t want to get beaten

Orient manager Russell Slade insisted he was happy enough, after his team ended their League One campaign with a 1-1 draw against Oldham at Brisbane Road.

Defeat for Walsall at Crewe ensured a point was enough for Slade to equal his highest league placing of seventh with Orient and he said: “We’ve drawn the game and finished seventh which is the best we could do before the game started so we have to be very satisfied with that.

“We didn’t want to get beaten. We wanted to make it six from six at home after winning the last five games here, but we wanted to finish seventh and we’ve achieved that.”

Slade gave a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Harry Lee, who came on in the 82nd minute.

Lee, along with fellow second year scholar De’Reece Vanderhyde, has recently been offered a one-year professional contract and Slade added: “He’s (Lee) been on the bench the last couple of games, and if we had had injuries he might have got on earlier.

“I was pretty determined to at least get one of them on. I’m pleased that Harry’s gone on. For the 10, 13 minutes that he was on, he did great.”

Orient have decided to release Joe Foley, Sean Grace, Afolabi Obafemi and George Wickings, though, in what was a difficult decision for Slade.

“It’s always the hardest job to let your younger players go because there’s so much disappointment,” said Slade who insisted he needs a break, but is already looking forward to next season.

“I want some time with the family, I want a break,” he said.

“We all need a break, we all need to recharge, but I’ll look forward to the new season like I look forward to every single season.

“I love my job and I love building teams and having the opportunity to build teams so I’ll look forward to that.”