Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade has handed in his resignation as he moves a step closer to joining Cardiff City.

The O's boss has made no secret of his desire to move to the Championship club and admitted last night he did not know if he would be in charge for the Rochdale game on Saturday.

Orient have turned down three approaches from Cardiff City and Slade himself which has seemingly left the manager with no alternative but to resign in an effort to force through his move to Wales.

The O's have yet to confirm whether Slade's resignation has been accepted but it is hard to see them standing in his way after Slade was recently handed an ultimatum which he publicised to the surprise of owner Francesco Becchetti. 

A statement on the club website read: "The chairman and the CEO of Leyton Orient have received a resignation letter from Russell Slade a few minutes ago.

"This has not happened by chance after the club rejected this afternoon a proposal from the general manager of Cardiff City regarding the transfer of Russell Slade. The lawyers of the club are now studying the file."

Speaking last night after Orient's defeat to Sheffield United, Slade said: “Everyone wants to better themselves and you’ve been in League 1 for a few years and came so close in May to getting ourselves in the Championship.

"We were a penalty kick away. It’s frustrating. It’s a big club [Cardiff] and it will be a big job for somebody that eventually ends up with it.”