Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade has survived an ultimatum and held onto his job after talks following last night’s 1-1 draw at Notts County.

Slade was told he needed to get a positive result and performance at Meadow Lane to stay at the club after Saturday’s home defeat to Colchester United.

The O’s boss held a meeting with sporting director Mauro Milanese and chief executive Alessandro Angelieri after their midweek draw but owner Francesco Becchetti has decided to keep Slade in charge.

Slade said: “There was a frank and honest exchange and discussion with the president, Mauro and Alessandro with a plan to go forward which still involves me at this time. But I think communication is going to be key over the coming weeks between us all.

“It was a very honest discussion. I’m an honest man and say what I think and believe in. The president’s a passionate man as well and he will say what he thinks and believes in so we have to find that common ground in terms of the way we go forward.”

He added: “These are challenging times for me and the group. Life’s always going to be full of obstacles and it’s a question of getting over those obstacles and moving forward as a football club. We’ve done so much in previous times but this is a new era and we have to move forward again with or without me.”

When asked if an ultimatum remained in place heading into Saturday’s trip to Scunthorpe United, Slade said: “No, I don’t [have an ultimatum]. I just carry on in my role as it stands. That’s probably a question you shouldn’t be asking me really.”

The O’s boss added: “I love the football club and I think the fans know that. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices with my family living a long way from London but we make it work.

“It’s what I do. It’s my job and I love my job and obviously you don’t want that taken away from you. Let’s hope moving forward relations and performances moreover are consistently of a high level so that everybody’s happy.”

Slade, who is the fourth longest serving manager in the top four divisions after being appointed in April 2010, said: “It’s a great club. It’s a community club and one that’s grown in the time I’ve been here. I just feel part and parcel of it. I obviously don’t want to finish yet.

“I’ve still got a job to do and a lot to prove to myself because I’ve been in three play-off finals now and fallen at the very last hurdle and that’s hard to take. But I still have that desire and ambition to take the club into the Championship and that won’t change.”

While Slade’s immediate future was being ironed out, at the club where he started his managerial career 20 years ago, Notts County boss Shaun Derry could not believe his position was on the line.

Derry said: “I don’t know what decision is going to be made in there. If the rumours are right that he needed this as a win tonight I’ve actually got no words. I think the game has gone absolutely bonkers. The sooner people realise that the better because you’re not just talking about a good manager for Leyton Orient. He’s been a good manager for every club he’s been at.

“It started here and he’s gone on all his journeys and done it right. He got manager of the year at various places and got them within one kick of the Championship last year. I was there at the game and there was absolutely nothing between the sides. It was one kick and that was it and he finds that he could be out of a job. Absolutely scandalous.”

After failing to beat Notts County, many Orient fans feared the worst and it looked as if Slade’s tenure at the club would be coming to an end.

Speaking immediately after the draw, Slade said: “Mauro’s come down and made contact with me so I really don’t know the outcome. Certainly what I don’t want to live with is ultimatums. I don’t think that’s the right way. I don’t think that’s the professional way forward for any football club or manager.

“The president I don’t think is too happy. He wanted a win. He wants to talk to me and we’ll see where those talks lead us.”

Slade took his team to the brink of promotion last season and built their success on a united team on and off the pitch working alongside previous owner Barry Hearn. The Orient boss warned that this must not be sacrificed under their new Italian owner.

He said: “I’ve done 650-odd games and to see that support is overwhelming. We’ve not had a great start but they believe in me. We had something very special at this football club and it’s important that ethos doesn’t get eroded even though there is a change of ownership or a change of personnel. It doesn’t matter whether there is a personnel change because that worth ethic, togetherness, desire and character cannot change.”

The Orient boss has been inundated with support from fans since news of his possible departure broke on Saturday. Slade has been overwhelmed with emotion as his players and supporters rallied to keep him in a job.

Slade said: “Everybody wanted to play for me tonight to get a result. In terms of their attitude it’s been wonderful and the fans’ attitude, whether it’s been social media or the cards of support they’ve shown tonight, it’s been quite overwhelming to be honest.

“They were fantastic all night. It was irrelevant really what the score was. They were chanting all night and it didn’t go unnoticed and of course we appreciated it.

“There are certain things in life you just can’t control. Nobody can control everything in life. What you can control is the response and the response tonight by my group and by myself I thought was as good as you could possibly ask for.”

The O’s fell behind against the run of play when Nathan Clarke conceded a penalty which was converted by Zeli Ismail. But Orient deservedly equalised in the second half when David Mooney was fouled in the area and Chris Dagnall tucked home the penalty.

Heading into the match, it looked as if only victory would be enough to save his job.

Speaking after Saturday’s defeat, Slade said: “The president has been honest enough, via Mauro Milanese, to tell me that I have got – we have got – one game to sort it out.

“We have to look at the bigger picture – not just the short-term picture but the situation is we need to get a win on Tuesday or that will be curtains.”