The O’s boss discussed Garry Hill’s return to management and backed his predecessor Daryl McMahon to find work sooner rather than later

Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh is pleased to see Garry Hill back involved in football after he was recently appointed manager of the O’s National League rivals Ebbsfleet United.

The Kent club parted company with Daryl McMahon last Wednesday (November 7) by mutual consent and acted quickly to replace him with ex-Dagenham & Redbridge boss Hill taking over.

On Saturday the 59-year-old, who worked with Edinburgh at Rushden & Diamonds, took charge of his first match as Fleet manager and earned a 0-0 draw at home to League Two club Cheltenham Town in the first round of the FA Cup.

Hill has appointed former Orient head coach Ian Hendon as his assistant and the pair will host the O’s in the National League on January 19.

Edinburgh is already looking forward to the game, he said: “I know Garry very well, I worked with him and I have a lot of time for him, so it is good to see him back in the game.

“He has done a lot of good work over a long period of time and I wish him the best. He will go in and be straight with the players.

“They will know where he stands and what he wants from them, so I wish him all the best and look forward to going up against him in January.”

While one-time Hornchurch manager Hill will be happy to be back in the game, his predecessor McMahon is now out of work.

It was something of a surprise to see the former Orient midfielder depart Fleet after a successful three-and-a-half year spell.

McMahon led Ebbsfleet into the National League South play-offs in both the 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns – winning promotion in the latter.

He also took the club into the top seven of the National League last season, but they lost out in the play-offs to Tranmere Rovers, who won the final in Wembley.

Edinburgh admitted little surprises him in football, but he didn’t expect McMahon to leave Ebbsfleet, though he doesn’t envisage him being out of work for long.

He said: “It is very difficult sometimes to read what is coming out, but I’m sure Daryl will be back in the game soon.

“It was a surprise because if you look at what he achieved there, they have been consistent in winning games.

“Three play-offs and one promotion was his record, so surprising in a way, but on the other hand nothing surprises me in football.

“I have been in positions where I wouldn’t have thought I would be sacked, but I have and I guess it is different ideas and different reasons. I am sure he will work his way back in sooner rather than later.”