Brisbane Road club might see numerous experienced footballers depart once their contracts expire at the end of June

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient captain Mathieu Baudry battles with Plymouth Argyle forward Reuben Reid (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient captain Mathieu Baudry battles with Plymouth Argyle forward Reuben Reid (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: 07958 573219 simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Leyton Orient caretaker Andy Hessenthaler is concerned the club could lose some key players during the summer.

The likes of captain Mathieu Baudry, Lloyd James and Jobi McAnuff are just a few that may leave at the end of the season.

Nobody knows what will happen next year regarding the managerial situation, but what’s clear is something needs to occur quickly.

With numerous talented first teamers out of contract, rival sides will no doubt be looking at the O’s squad and starting to plot who they could sign.

Hessenthaler said: “I think the club could lose people. There are some good players here out of contract like the Baudry’s of this world and we could lose them.

“I’m sure other teams are looking at these guys out of contract and maybe talking to them. Lloyd is another and he was excellent on Saturday against Mansfield Town.

“We will wait and see and we can’t do anything more than get on with our jobs until we are told differently.”

It was a similar situation for Orient last year when Fabio Liverani was in charge and left shortly after their 2014/15 campaign finished.

The likes of Scott Cuthbert, Chris Dagnall and 10 others departed once their contracts ended in the summer.

Hessenthaler admitted when he and Ian Hendon took over, they wanted to keep the aforementioned duo, but they’d already made plans elsewhere.

And therefore it is crucial the Brisbane Road club do their best to avoid a similar situation this time around.

“Last year there were players that left the club and I come in with Ian and I know for a fact there was a couple that we would have kept,” added Hessenthaler.

“We were in a position where they had already gone and got themselves sorted at other clubs and that’s understandable because you can’t wait around.

“That is why it’s important we get the future sorted out now for the club as soon as possible.”

O’s caretaker went on to admit that he and Hendon had to do a lot of organising when they come in as assistant and head coach last summer.

He believes president Francesco Becchetti needs to make decisions regarding next season swiftly, adding: “I think it needs to be a quick decision because of the organisation and putting things into place.

“You don’t want to be playing catch up and we come in at the start of this season, brought 11 players in and then had to organise pre-season because that wasn’t done.

“Now you don’t want to be doing that again this year, that has to be organised and that is why it’s important a decision is made fairly quickly.”