Former Millwall defender discusses spirit in the squad, management team and O’s aim

Leyton Orient defender Alan Dunne believes the Brisbane Road club are definitely on the up after a turbulent 12 months in E10.

The events of last season have been well documented and the consequence is that the O’s are playing in League Two this year.

With Ian Hendon in charge everything seems a lot more positive and the hope is that a promotion challenge can be mounted.

Dunne believes that is possible but pondered whether more additions are needed to strengthen the Orient squad

He said: “Our aim this year is to get promoted, anything else is a bonus and that is still our aim and what we are focused on.

“We have got a great team spirit, I think we do need to add a couple more in just to boost the squad because it is going to be a long season with lots of games.

“When you play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday you do need quite a big squad, but the group of lads we have got is full of quality.

“We have some really hard working lads who want to work for each other and want to work for the manager. We have a good staff here and good team and I think we are on the way up.”

Hendon discussed whether he would add to his squad after watching his team beaten 2-1 by MK Dons on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup.

Peterborough’s Jack Payne has been linked with the O’s all summer, but there is no new movement on him.

Orient’s head coach added: “I am looking to strengthen the squad, but if we had won 1-0 at MK Dons nothing would have been said about the squad at all. I am not disappointed with that performance.

“There is no news on Jack Payne. There are a few that we are looking at but I am not going to tell you because then everyone else will be looking at them.”

Hendon and O’s main focus now, though, is their league encounter with Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road this afternoon.