Slade Linked with Pirates

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 09/10/2005

RUSSELL Slade has been linked with manager-less Bristol Rovers according to a report in a Sunday newspaper. The Town boss has been in the media spotlight recently after masterminding Grimsby's Carling Cup victory over Spurs, as well as the Mariners' lofty position in the League Two table.

The Pirates, who are currently languishing in a mid-table position in League Two, are said to be willing to double Slade's wages from their current level at Blundell Park, according to the unconfirmed newspaper article.

Russell Slade is out of contract at the end of the season, having signed a one year deal last year once Grimsby were safe from relegation at the end of 2004-2005. If Rovers were to persuade Slade to join them then Town would be entitled to compenstation, although with less than a year left on his contract this probably wouldn't amount to much.

Grimsby are no strangers to having their manager poached by a wealthier club. In 1994 Alan Buckell was lured away from Blundell Park by West Brom, only to rejoin the club just over two years later after being sacked from the Hawthorns.

The Mariners could of course end the speculation by offering their manager a new contract before the end of the season.

Russell Slade is currently ranked 8th in the country on the League Managers' Performance Table, a league maintained by the managers themeselves on their web site, leaguemanagers.com.

Bristol Rovers are currently managed by former Mariner Paul Trollope on a caretaker basis.

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