West Ham United first team coach replaces Fabio Liverani as manager at Brisbane Road

East London Advertiser: Former Leyton Orient manager Fabio Liverani (pic: EMPICS Sport/Scott Heavey).Former Leyton Orient manager Fabio Liverani (pic: EMPICS Sport/Scott Heavey). (Image: EMPICS Sport)

Leyton Orient have confirmed former West Ham United first coach Ian Hendon as their new head coach, days after it was initially expected.

Fabio Liverani left the club by mutual consent on May 13 and president Francesco Becchetti has interviewed various candidates for the role – including the likes of Darren Ferguson, Paul Tisdale and Paul Ince.

However the Italian has picked Hendon as the man to take charge of the O’s in League Two and bring former glory back to the club.

A statement on the club website read: “The Club are pleased to announce that former Leyton Orient captain, Ian Hendon, will be taking up the position of Head Coach from July 1.

“Following an extensive recruitment process conducted directly by the Chairman, the Club believe they have found the right man for the job. Many excellent candidates were interviewed, but Ian’s passion for the Club, his ideas to take the Club forward, and his hunger for success were key to the final decision.”

Hendon spoke to the official club website about becoming O’s new head coach, he said: “Orient is a Club that means a great deal to me – I hope that fans will remember the commitment I showed as a player, and know they can expect the same dedication from me as Head Coach.

“I’ve got a lot of experience of the lower leagues, having played at every level during my career and worked in League Two as player/manager, but having spent a few years working in the Premier League I have learnt a huge amount that will stand me in good stead for this new challenge.

“I hope to be able to bring some stability to the Club and help rebuild after the disappointment of last season. Promotion is the priority, but reconnecting with the fans is also important. Having met the President, I was impressed with his own long-term plans for the Club, and I can’t wait to get started.”

The 43-year-old played over 100 times for Orient in the 90s and has experience in the Football League as a manager before.

He was appointed caretaker of Barnet during the 2008/09 campaign when Paul Fairclough left the club and started strongly – losing just one of his opening 11 matches.

The former Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate guided the Bees to a 17th place finish and in the process earned himself a two-year contract in the summer of 2009.

Hendon started the new season well and Barnet were top in September, but a poor run of form in the new year resulted in his sacking on April 28.

Dover Athletic quickly registered an interest in the east Londoner and he was appointed their manager in May, but left after just 18 days to become Gillingham assistant.

His next move was to link up with old boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham in July 2011 and become development coach at Upton Park before earning a promotion to first team coach in December 2012.

Now he will take over an Orient team dejected after a sorry season which resulted in their relegation from League One just 12 months after losing the play-off final on penalties to Rotherham United.

It is believed the hold up in announcing Hendon as the next Orient manager was because he was away on a training course, but after meeting the president again today it has finally been confirmed.

Hendon’s may not be the man all O’s fans wanted, but he has history with the club and needs the supporters to get behind him now.