Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has set his sights on a Championship playoff place next season following the Welsh club's last home game of 2014-15.

Slade replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in October, but has been unable to help the club out of their mid-table rut. After yesterday's 3-2 win over already-relegated Blackpool, the Bluebirds are 13th in the table, 18 points behind the top six.

Despite an underwhelming first season in charge, former Leyton Orient boss Slade is confident of improving Cardiff's fortunes next season.

He told the club website: "If we can hit the ground running and be positive for the new season, we can make the most of a fresh start.

"We want to ensure that our recruiting is very strong, and I think that if we get our targets that we can get off to a positive start, and challenge for that top six."

There have been calls for Slade to be sacked, but he insists that they have bounced off him.

"It doesn't hurt," he added. "I think [the supporters] maybe showed a lack of understanding.

"It has been a disappointing season so I do understand that, but going forward we have a lot of work to do."

Cardiff's last game of the season next weekend is away at Nottingham Forest, another side with little to play for.