By Joe Richards
Russell Slade admitted he was disappointed as his reign as Cardiff City boss ended but says he has left the club in better shape than when he took over.
The Bluebirds chief saw his 19-month spell finish with a home draw against Birmingham that left his side eighth as he becomes Head of Football.
Slade, whose change of role was announced on Friday, said: “It’s been a difficult week after not getting the result against Sheffield Wednesday.
“It was going to be tough getting ourselves up for this game. We wanted to go out with a bang. We showed character to get back in the game but we couldn’t take it on from there.
“I’m disappointed we’ve not got the win.”
City went behind early to Welshman David Cotterill’s low strike but Anthony Pilkington equalised before the break with his ninth goal of the season.
The visitors hit the post twice and had two efforts cleared off the line as the Blues looked most likely to snatch victory in the second half.
Slade will be in a different role come August but believes he has brought stability to the club which was struggling at the wrong end of the table when he took over.
And he reckons whoever is handed the job will inherit a squad that with a bit of strengthening can push for promotion again next season.
He added: “We have stability. When I came to the club we were 17th. We managed to turn things around whilst addressing the financial side and bringing the wage bill down.
“There’s been progress, there is more cohesion. We’ve gone from 11th place last season to 8th placed this season, should have been 7th, but that’s progress.
“It’s not going to take an awful lot more to move forward a little bit more. I think there is a sound platform for the football club to move forward.
“I can hold my head up high.”
Slade is unsure of his new role although whoever succeeds him will not have to report to him.
He added; “There’s a lot to talk about but I want to do it to the best of my ability. I need to sit down and define the roles more clearly.
“We haven’t got a head of recruitment at the club and that needs addressing properly.
“So I’m sure that will be a chunk of what I take on board, in a more professional manner.
“However the management of the first team will be left entirely down to the new man and that’s exactly the way it should be.
“I think it’s a more continental, modern approach to the game. It works elsewhere and sometimes it hasn’t worked but it’s the direction the club want to go in.
“We all have to embrace that challenge but the most important thing is that we make it work
