Fabio Liverani insists he cannot be responsible for the failure of Leyton Orient's squad this season because he did not bring the players to the club.

The O’s had one of the most expensively assembled squads in the division after the arrival of players such as Andrea Dossena, Darius Henderson and Jobi McAnuff this season.

But when questioned about why Orient under-performed Liverani was quick to excuse himself from blame over the squad because he only arrived midway through the season.

The Italian said: “With regard to being the highest paid team in the league I’d say they were brought in before I arrived so one responsibility I cannot take is the fact the squad has been built by other people.

“I feel responsible as manager for the relegation but not for the squad that was built here before my arrival. I am not involved in negotiating the salaries of the players and bringing them in. I found a team and was convinced the quality was enough to avoid relegation. Unfortunately this didn’t happen.”