Orient boss disappointed with defeat to Exeter and reveals why the Brisbane Road club haven’t added to their squad recently

Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon confirmed that he is still waiting to hear from president Francesco Becchetti about bringing new players to Brisbane Road.

The O’s suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Exeter City earlier today in League Two despite taking the lead inside 27 seconds.

It is common knowledge that the east Londoners are trying to add to their squad, but only Calaum Jahraldo-Martin has joined the club during the January transfer window.

Hendon revealed that he has sent a list of names to the board with a view to signing them, but not had any response yet.

A new technical director, Andrea Pressenda, was appointed this week and the Orient boss admitted that might have held up any deals.

He said: “We as a coaching staff have identified what we want and put a list of players together that we would like to sign.

“We have had meetings a couple of weeks back now and put forward our proposals of what we’re after and we are still waiting.

“A person on the board coming in, a technical director, maybe hasn’t helped things run as smoothly as we would have hoped.

“I said after the last game at Stevenage we would be looking to try and bring a few in and that is still the case.”

Pressenda is set to play a part in any transfers the O’s do this month and Hendon admits the pair need to sit down at some point this week.

Orient’s head coach also insisted he hasn’t been told that money isn’t available to spend in January.

Hendon added: “From my point of view stuff like speaking to clubs, players and agents – I have actually had emails from the technical director to discuss certain players and things that have happened.

“He is obviously involved on that side and it is something we need to sit down and have a chat about very quickly.

“I haven’t been told there is no money available, I am just doing my job and putting forward what I think we need as a football club to strengthen my squad and I am awaiting a response.”

After today’s loss, the pressure appears to be building on Hendon as the O’s dropped to 11th in the League Two table.

He concedes that his players fell short of what he expects from them against the Grecians this afternoon.

“It is a results business, but I think we are still just one win away from making the play-offs,” said Hendon.

“I am not making excuses and I keep saying it I am disappointing and frustrated because I put a team out there to go and win the game of football, but we fell short today.”

Things might have been different had Jay Simpson managed to score one of the two penalties he failed to convert.

But Hendon was quick to back the leading goalscorer in League Two to get in the goals again next weekend at Wycombe Wanderers.

He added: “I just tapped Jay on the back in there and look he has been great all season. He will have days like today.

“Sadly we could have had a couple from the spot, but it wasn’t to be. I’m not having a go at Jay at all.

“He had the bottle to get up and take the second one after missing the first and he will bounce back next week and be back on the goal trail soon.”