Carl Fletcher EXCLUSIVE: Leyton Orient head coach hopes to continue Justin Edinburgh’s legacy at Brisbane Road

Carl Fletcher says he’s ‘honoured’ to be handed the Leyton Orient job and has iterated his desire to build on Justin Edinburgh’s legacy in east London.

The 39-year-old agreed an 18-month contract at Brisbane Road last Wednesday, keeping him with the O’s until the end of the 2020/21 season, and he takes over from Ross Embleton, who had served as interim head coach since the summer following the sudden death of Edinburgh.

Embleton will now revert back to his previous role as assistant coach, while Danny Webb and club captain Jobi McAnuff will remain part of the coaching set-up.

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It has proven to be a tumultuous few months off the pitch for Orient, who are still recovering from the tragic passing of Edinburgh, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest just weeks after guiding the club to the National League title and FA Trophy final.

Edinburgh had a huge impact in east London, converting Orient from National League strugglers to champions within the space of 18 months, but most importantly he allowed O’s fans to fall back in love with their club again after some testing times in previous years under the ownership of Francesco Becchetti.

As such, Fletcher says he will ensure that Edinburgh will never be forgotten and revealed that he spoke to the 49-year-old’s family before taking the job in east London.

Speaking to talkSPORT following his appointment, Fletcher said: “It feels great. I’m very honoured and very lucky.

“It’s a really good club with good people and good owners. Sometimes it just seems to fit and I think that sometimes, getting the club right is more important than getting the job if that makes sense. It ticked a lot of boxes and had a really good feel about it.

“I didn’t know Justin but everyone I spoke to never had a bad word to say about him and said how much of a nice guy he was.

“I think it’s important that I don’t try to be like Justin because I couldn’t and it wouldn’t be right. But I think it’s important that we try to carry on the good work he started here and improve on that. Luckily enough, he had some good staff here that have helped to carry that on so far.

“Obviously we’re never going to forget him, but I felt it was important that I spoke to Justin’s wife before the news came out and reassure her that the door is always open because I’m sure it can be a difficult period with a new manager coming in. But I think it’s important that that we try to push on from where he took this club and try to improve in the best way we can.”

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Fletcher hasn’t coached a first-team since 2013, when he left Plymouth Argyle following a 16-month spell in charge at Home Park.

Since then, he has worked for AFC Bournemouth as Under-18s boss and, more recently, loan manager, with both roles allowing him to work closely with one of the brightest young managers in the country, Eddie Howe.

Fletcher believes this will benefit him in his new role.

“I think there’s a lot [I can bring with me],” he said. “I was lucky enough to work closely with not just Eddie but some of the coaches there in the first team environment and the academy as well.

“You try to take as much as you can not only from them, but other experiences you’ve had throughout your life and you try to put them all together and try and bring out something which goes well.

“I’ve been very fortunate to learn a lot there, not just coaching but in the football, business and personal side as well and hopefully I’ll be able to use it as best as I can.”

Coincidentally, Fletcher’s first game in charge of Orient will come against Plymouth, who he also represented as a player, this evening.

The O’s head into the game in good form having extended their unbeaten run in League Two to four games at the weekend with a 4-0 defeat of Grimsby and the new head coach said it will be a surreal feeling to be back at his former club.

“It will be strange,” he finished.

“I’ve not been back to Home Park since I’ve left really. I’ve obviously been down to Plymouth as I was there for four years and we’ve still got friends down there but I’ve not been down to the ground.

“There will be a mixture of memories, but at the same time, an exciting time and hopefully a game we can do well in.”