38-year-old discusses managers positions, frustration for the fans and possible new man in charge at E10
Former Leyton Orient captain John Mackie has backed Ian Hendon to do a good job as O’s manager if he is appointed by the Brisbane Road club this week.
Fabio Liverani departed by mutual consent recently after failing to avoid relegation to League Two and president Francesco Becchetti has interviewed a number of candidates about replacing the Italian.
It is understood a decision on who becomes the fifth manager under the Orient owner is likely to be announced tomorrow and the West Ham United first team coach is expected to be given the role.
Hendon made over 100 appearances for O’s during a four-year spell with the club in the 90s and Mackie believes the former Barnet manager has the credentials to impress in the E10 hot seat.
The 38-year-old captained Orient to promotion in the 2005/06 campaign and feels it is harsh to judge Hendon solely on his past managerial experiences with Barnet and Dover Athletic.
“I have played against Ian a couple of times and he was a good full-back,” said Mackie. “Obviously he managed Barnet for a while and I have read some of the comments on Twitter about how he did nothing at Barnet and he was only at Dover for a few weeks.
“But nobody knows what happened. I am sure at Barnet he didn’t have a fantastic budget and it would have just been that he had to work with what he had.
“Nobody knows the situation at Dover either but he is obviously a good coach because he has been at a Premier League club. To be coaching at West Ham with Sam Allardyce, Teddy Sheringham etc he isn’t going to be a mug!
“He is an Englishman and he played for the O’s so why not? I can’t see the problem but only time will tell if he is the right man.”
Mackie insisted whoever is appointed by Becchetti won’t please the fans because everybody will have a different opinion on who should become the next Orient manager.
He does believe the only way to get the fans on side is to get results instantly.
“The fans are getting a little bit edgy now because they haven’t appointed anyone straight away after the sacking of Liverani,” added Mackie.
“Hopefully they are doing the right thing by taking their time and getting the right man. Hopefully it is the right man to get them back up into the league they deserve to be in and kick on from there.
“The fans won’t be 100 per cent happy whoever they appoint because some will want Darren Ferguson, some will want Hendon, some will want Martin Ling back.
“Some might want Matt Lockwood or myself or a bigger name like a Paolo Di Canio. You are never going to please everyone - the only thing that will please everyone is results no matter who is in charge so whoever gets the job needs to get off on a winning foot to get everyone on side again.”
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