After a year in the hot seat Russell wants to keep pushing on

It’s just over a year ago that Russell Slade moved into the hot seat at Leyton Orient.

He was appointed on April 5, took charge for the last six games of the season and made an impact straight away.

In his first game in control the O’s battled to a point in a goalless draw at Exeter.

Slade went on to guide Orient to 10 points from a possible 18 and that was enough to preserve their League One status.

Fast forward a year and things look very different at Brisbane Road.

Instead of battling to beat the drop, the O’s still have a chance of making the play-offs and are in a three-horse race with Rochdale and Bournemouth for sixth spot.

By a strange coincidence, Orient continue their promotion push with another trip to Exeter on Saturday – a fact that’s not lost on Slade as he completed a year in the hot seat.

“It’s been a good year and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and we have made progress,” he said.

“It’s strange how things work out and we are going back to Exeter at the weekend.

“But I fear that we will need a little more than a point this time if we want to make the play-offs. It will be a tough game there.”

The O’s missed a chance on Tuesday night to take closer order in the play-off chase when they drew 0-0 with Carlisle. The result leaves them two points behind Bournemouth and three behind Rochdale, who beat Southampton.

Slade would like to reach 71 points this season – but refuses to put a figure on how many points Orient will need to make the top six.

“We will just take each game as it comes,” said the Orient boss.

“But if it’s not to be this season and that’s not to say I have given up, because we will never give up, Hopefully we can push on again, make one or two more signings and be even stronger next season.”