Brisbane Road boss believes club can still get promoted if they can sign ‘four or five’ in January
Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon is determined to get the club promoted this season and still believes it is possible.
The O’s needed a late Jay Simpson strike to earn them a 2-2 draw at Stevenage in their first match of 2016.
More defensive errors contributed towards the two goals scored by the hosts, which put them ahead going into stoppage time.
But the east Londoners managed to claim an away point, although it didn’t stop the Orient fans chanting ‘Hendon out’ at the full time whistle.
He appreciates their frustration, but believes the rebuilding job he has needed to do at Brisbane Road needs to be considering.
The O’s had 13 senior professionals exit the club during the summer and have brought in 10 on permanent deals since July.
“It has been a massive turnaround here, I have come in during the summer and everything at this football club has turned around like the backroom staff and players that didn’t want to be here,” said Hendon.
“It is alright saying we should have kept this one or that one, but they didn’t want to stay. If they don’t want to stay at Orient then they can go.
“I want people at this football club that want to play for this club and wear the shirt. I played here, I love this football club and I’ll do everything I can to get us out of this league.”
Hendon believes they need to add another midfielder as well as a couple of defenders during the January transfer window.
Lloyd James is set to be out until the middle of February while Sammy Moore is only just coming back to full fitness.
The Orient boss hopes he gets the backing of president Francesco Becchetti during the next month to help their promotion push.
Hendon added: “I think we need another midfield player with ‘Lloydy’ and Sammy out. We are hoping Sammy will be back soon, but we want to get another midfield player in.
“We most definitely need a couple at the back so we probably want to add four or five if we can do it.
“Everyone says the squad is small, but that is not through a lack of trying. Now is the time to basically do that.
“Let’s fill the squad between now and the end of the season. Do I think I’ll get that backing? I hope so.”
The O’s have managed to add one player already with Hull City forward Calaum Jahraldo-Martin signing on a one-month loan.
He made his debut against Stevenage, coming on in the 77th minute and showed glimmers of his potential.
Some wondered whether former Orient man Moses Odubajo, now at Hull, played a part in the deal, but Hendon confirmed he didn’t.
“No Moses didn’t play a part, I spoke to Hull, Steve Bruce, Stephen Clemence, who I know, and Tony Pennock – he does deals with the recruitment there so we knew about him,” added the O’s boss.
“It was just a matter of getting it across the line in January and thankfully we did it before the Stevenage game.
“Calaum showed a little bit of what he is about, probably not the most ideal conditions for him, but you can see what he has got. He is quick, has good ability on the ball and can be a good addition.”
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