Ex-midfielder, who is now player-manager at Leatherhead, is hoping to see old club get back on track when he visits Brisbane Road on Saturday
Ex-Leyton Orient midfielder Sammy Moore hopes to see his old club move in the right direction again soon after a tough introduction to life in the National League.
The O’s parted company with head coach Steve Davis on Tuesday after a run of 11 league games without a win, which has seen them drop to 19th – just three points above the relegation zone.
Moore, who played in the division last season on loan at Dover Athletic, knows just how tough it can be and will watch two of his old sides do battle on Saturday.
Orient host the Kent club, who are currently top, with Ross Embleton and Dean Brill set to take charge after the recent sacking of Davis.
Although Moore has had two spells with Dover, it is clear where his loyalties lie ahead of this weekend.
“I played for both teams, but I’d like to see Orient win on Saturday because I want to see them move up the table quickly,” said the current Leatherhead player-manager.
“Orient is a great club with people like Ada (kitman) and Lindsey Martin (secretary) at the heart of it and others like Howard Gould (Community Liaison Officer), so I really want them to start doing well again soon.
“They have got a good team and although things are not going their way right now, it only takes four or five wins and you are back in the play-off mix.
“It’s been tough to see what has gone on of late, but when you look at the bigger picture, there are a lot of games left and now they’ve made this change, hopefully they can appoint a new manager and get back on track.”
Moore will be watching the O’s on Saturday as a fan, but in the mean time, he is getting ready for a big FA Cup clash of his own on Thursday.
His Leatherhead team visit Bostik Premier foes Billericay Town in a first round replay at the New Lodge with the BT Sport cameras present.
If the Tanners can make it through, they’ll travel to League Two outfit Wycombe Wanderers in the second round of the FA Cup.
The first match at Fetcham Grove ended 1-1 following a late equaliser by Billericay, but Moore will be hoping to mastermind an upset in his first season of management.
Leatherhead is the focus of the ex-AFC Wimbledon midfielder for now, but in time he would love a shot at taking charge one of his old clubs.
“I’d definitely like to manage Leyton Orient one day when I’ve learned my trade a lot more,” said the 30-year-old.
“I’ve been given a fantastic opportunity by Leatherhead and recently signed a two-year contract and I want to honour that and hopefully achieve promotion within that time because I do feel like that is achievable.
“But as a young manager, I do want to progress and I am ambitious, so I want to go as far as I possibly can.
“Ultimately I want to manage in the Football League one day, but I am learning so much at Leatherhead and I know we will be in an even stronger position this time next year.
“This is my first job and I’m finding out what things to do and what things I shouldn’t do. I do want to be the best I can be and when I’m not at training or games, I try and watch pro clubs do training sessions and watch players too.
“Leatherhead is a fantastic opportunity for me right now, but I do hope in a few years time, when I have got more experience under my belt, the chance to manage Leyton Orient might come up.”
Moore went on to discuss the tough nature of the National League and how O’s were always likely to find life difficult initially.
But he does feel with the new owners Nigel Travis and Kent Teague now in place, Orient can look to a much brighter future in the long run.
“It is sad to see them where they are in the table because it is such a fantastic football club and I built up a real special bond with the fans during my two years there,” said Moore.
“I want to see them get back into the Football League and I’ve always said it can be a Championship club in the long run, especially now it has the new owners in place.
“Hopefully a manager can come in and get the club back to where they belong, but I played in the National League last season and it is such a tough division.
“It doesn’t matter who you are playing because every game is difficult and Orient need to treat every game like a cup final because if not, they could get dragged into a relegation battle and it would be a disaster if they ended up in the National League South.
“Hopefully that won’t be the case and they make an appointment quickly and things can improve. If they can get back to playing some attacking football and scoring goals then they should start winning again and moving up the table in no time.”
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