Dean Cox has admitted Leyton Orient's current plight hurts him a lot and insists things have to change because the team have not been good enough.

The club’s fall from grace over the last 12 months has been dramatic with relegation to League Two a realistic possibility for a side one penalty shoot-out away from reaching the Championship.

Cox has experienced all the highs and lows over five years at Brisbane Road and spoke emotionally about how difficult this season has proved.

He said: “We’ve had a frank discussion in the changing room and it’s not good enough. Things have got to change, there’s no two ways about it. Whether or not he brings in new players I don’t know but that’s the manager’s prerogative. He’s come in and I don’t know what plans he has.

"But for the players here we’re trying our best. It hurts me a lot and I hope it’s hurting the rest. I’m sure it is and we’re looking to turn it around.”

Orient’s problems have been all over the pitch, with too many defensive mistakes and a lack of goals in the side. The togetherness and spirit from last season has also been eroded and Cox is in no doubt rediscovering this is critical to their survival hopes.

He said: “We need goals and wins. We need character, spirit and to bring back an ethos which we had last year. We need concentration, aggression and Russell Slade always used the word ruthless. We need to be ruthless in both boxes. We need to defend and score goals. Simple.”

Some supporters voted with their feet during Saturday’s defeat at Barnsley by leaving the match early. A section of fans also booed the side and vented their anger at the players. But Cox sympathised with them and insists they are well within their rights to criticise the team after their abject showing.

The midfielder said: “I’ve got no queries about them going home at all. They pay their money and can do what they want. They’ve supported us greatly over the last year and this was a season we were hopefully going to bounce back. But it hasn’t happened.

“Obviously with where we are in the league it’s pretty down. I think you heard the supporters and some of them left before half-time so they’re disgusted with it and rightly so. It’s not been good enough. All I can say is it’s been one hell of a change since I’ve been here and it’s been hard to get to grips with to be honest.

“This is football and tempers are flying. Emotions are high so some people do say things in the heat of the moment. That’s football and we’re joint bottom of the division so they’re hardly going to clap us off, are they?”

He continued: “All you can do is congratulate the supporters. They’ve come up all this way and it hasn’t been the greatest performance. But I hope they take something from the heart and spirit we showed in the second half that we’re not dead and buried and we want to get out of this predicament we’re in at the moment.”

New managers often spark a short-term reaction but this has not been the case with Kevin Nugent, Mauro Milanese or Liverani this season. Cox admits it has been very difficult with the lack of continuity and also confirmed some players are struggling to understand Liverani’s instructions during games.

He said: “Obviously there hasn’t been a lift in terms of results. But we’re trying our best on the training pitch. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of four managers in a season at this stage before so it’s been very difficult. The previous managers have had different ideas to the one we have got now so it’s difficult to implement exactly what he wants on the pitch.

“The language barrier is a bit difficult from the sideline when he’s trying to give instructions. Some of the lads don’t understand what he’s saying so it’s difficult.”

It is fair to suggest there have been plenty of mistakes by Francesco Becchetti since his takeover in the summer. Appointing three new managers before Christmas, following Slade’s departure, has been far from ideal but Cox will not criticise the decisions of the new owner.

The 27-year-old said: “I can’t question that. It’s the owner’s prerogative. He’s bought the club and if he wants to bring in players and the owner wants to change things then what can the players do? We’re paid to play so if I’m picked in the team I go out there and play the best I can.”

Dean Cox admits it may be time to leave the club