O’s boss discusses plans to bring in assistant manager and the aim to have a busy transfer deadline day
Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan expects Calaum Jahraldo-Martin to remain at Brisbane Road despite his loan expiring at the weekend.
The 22-year-old joined the east Londoners from Championship outfit Hull City at the start of January on an initial one-month deal.
Although he signed for previous boss Ian Hendon, he earned his first start under Nolan and scored against Wycombe Wanderers on January 23.
Jahraldo-Martin has made four appearances for the O’s during that time and it is expected his loan will be extended at some point this week.
Nolan said: “Yes hopefully we can extend Calaum’s loan because he has done really well, scored at Wycombe, but probably was one of the people that could have done with a rest and come off the bench to give us a lift against Cambridge.
“I have been very happy with him, he has been fantastic, but so have all the lads. They have all been great and I am just disappointed because I know the quality we have got.
“If this performance would have been at Wycombe I probably would have taken it more on the chin, but because we have had the performances we have had in the first two games - the one we put in against Cambridge does hurt a bit more.”
Orient tasted defeat for the first time under Nolan on Saturday after a string of defensive errors contributed towards a 3-1 loss.
Ben Williamson scored twice for the visitors before teeing up Jimmy Spencer, while Armand Gnanduillet pulled one back for the O’s.
He is one of four additions made by the League Two club in the January transfer market with another expected as Mansfield Town captain Nicky Hunt is set to sign today.
“With me bringing in a couple of players in the next 48 hours and having Shaun Brisley join us from Peterborough, it is going to make us tougher,” Nolan said on Saturday.
“It will make them lads in the line-up have a wee look over their shoulder and think ‘I have got someone breathing down my neck if I don’t put in a performance.’ It is one thing I have wanted, healthy competition throughout the squad.
“We have got it now so hopefully this week I’ll have a bit more time with the boys on the training ground and we’ll go to Portsmouth with no injury worries and with a full strength squad to pick from.”
Orient’s player-manager was also asked if he could have a new assistant manager in place by the time they make the trip to Fratton Park.
But he was keeping his cards close to his chest and insisted it must be right for Andy Hessenthaler and goalkeeper coach Lee Harrison as well.
Nolan added: “I haven’t really had a chance to sit down and look at the assistant. This is probably the first period where I don’t need to worry about a game in the next few days.
“In the next 48 to 72 hours I will be looking at what options I have got and who knows, we might have somebody in, but it needs to right for me and right for us.
“I have a good fantastic support team behind me in Hessy and Harrison and going behind them the lads in the fitness department so it needs to be somebody that fits in with them.”
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