Russell’s boys will need a miracle says Beagrie

Beagrie warning for O’s boss Slade

Football League expert Peter Beagrie claims Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade will have to work miracles to repeat last year’s play-off challenge with the O’s this term.

Despite coming up against mega-rich League One rivals in the likes of Swindon and Sheffield United, the O’s came within three points of a top-six finish last term.

Such was the accomplishment former Everton and Bradford winger Beagrie admits Slade’s efforts should have been acknowledged with the League One Manager of the Year Award.

But while the seventh-place finish was a remarkable achievement for a side that finished one place above the drop zone the season before, Beagrie insists it’s not likely to happen again.

“When I look at the teams that have come down, and the teams that are still in there, I don’t think they have a chance of repeating that this season. If he finishes in seventh position he should definitely win manager of the season,” said Beagrie.

“When you talk about success it’s all relative. If you look at Doncaster, Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Swindon and the budgets that they had, for Sladey to get his side into that position was a remarkable achievement.

“Finishing three points outside the play-offs, it was absolutely outstanding. You could argue him and [eventual winner] Gary Johnson at Yeovil were neck and neck for manager of the year in League One because of the budgets involved.

“You could class Russell as a trawler, he’s trawled his way through the divisions and done very good jobs under extreme situations at various clubs. I love him to bits, what he would do without football I don’t know because he’s a tremendous character.

“I’ve got a lot of mutual friends who hold Sladey in such high regard, the Football League is full of characters and Sladey is certainly one of them.”

Slade recently extended his stay with the club until the summer of 2016 but his immediate focus will be on hitting the ground running come the start of the new season with a trip to Carlisle on the opening day.

But, he will also be desperate to down Coventry City at home in the first round of the Capital One Cup, and Beagrie can’t wait to see the two sides lock horns.

“We’re all desperate for the season to start again, and there are some absolute corkers in the first round, including this one,” added Beagrie.

“It’s a competition that has always endeared itself to the players, with many of the fixtures being midweek sometimes it’s certainly held in very high esteem.

“It’s also a good barometer for clubs to see if they need a few additions and if they’ve got enough as far as the squad is concerned.”

? Peter Beagrie was speaking on behalf of credit card company Capital One, sponsor of The League Cup.