Justin Edinburgh has reiterated his desire to guide Leyton Orient to promotion this season, with the O’s head coach believing that the squad are more than capable of finishing in the play-offs.

Orient finished the campaign impressively under the former Northampton Town boss last time around, with the club having the best defensive record in the league under Edinburgh after his appointment back in November.

A run of just two defeats in their last eight games helped propel Orient to a 13th place finish last season and while the club have not made whole sale changes to the squad this summer, they have strengthened key areas by bringing in both James Alabi and Dale Gorman.

Orient’s activity in the transfer market may not be over yet either, with the club potentially looking to bring in another striker, with Matt Harrold set to be ruled out until the end of September through injury.

With influential players like Charlie Lee and James Dayton also returning to full fitness ahead of the new National League season, Orient’s squad is starting to look strong on paper and Edinburgh is targeting a play-off place come the end of the campaign in April.

He said: “With the squad that we have, I believe that promotion is something we are capable of achieving. We have to be mindful of the fact that everyone wants to take that top spot.

“To finish in 13th and then jump 12 places to number one will be a difficult task. But I think that we have to be realistic that the play offs are the goal that we all want and is a realistic opportunity.”

Under Steve Davis last season, the O’s started strongly despite a chaotic summer for the club off the pitch, with a 4-1 win against Guiseley at Brisbane Road in September leaving them in second place in the table.

However, a run of 15 games without a win saw Orient’s hopes of an immediate return to the Football League go up in smoke, with Davis being relieved of his duties in mid-November.

Given Orient’s form towards the end of the campaign, many supporters will be hoping that the O’s will be able to send a message to the rest of the National League when they take on the class of 92’s Salford City in their first game of the season on Saturday, August 4.

But Edinburgh was quick to stress that nothing is won or lost in the first month, with the Orient boss stating that his team need to perform consistently over the course of the campaign if they wish to turn their promotion hopes into reality.

“You always want to start the season well. It always provides a positive feel good factor. But there’s nothing set in stone that if you start well and you finish well,” the 48-year-old said.

“Leyton Orient started off pretty well last season but weren’t able to maintain it. So, it’s nothing that I’m trying to be clever here, but it’s about the duration of the season. You could get off to a flyer and hit the buffers early on.

“Having a bright start helps and it keeps everyone’s optimism and feel good factor around the football club going. On the flip side, nothing is one or lost in that first month or so of the season. We want to be starting well and finishing strongly if we can.”