John Mackie is relishing the prospect of returning to Leyton Orient as U16s coach.

The O’s confirmed on Friday that the former centre half would be returning to the club in a part-time capacity as U16s coach, a role he will share with his job as assistant manager to former Orient striker Gary Alexander at Ashford United.

Mackie enjoyed three years with Orient as a player from 2004-2007, scoring 11 goals in 112 appearances, and is fondly remembered for captaining the O’s to promotion to League One during the 2005/06 season. That achievement was historic for the East London club, as it was their first automatic promotion for 36 years.

The centre-half was back at Brisbane Road on Sunday as part of the London Legends team which beat a celebrity XI 5-4 in a charity match set up by academy coach Errol McKellar and Mackie is looking forward to his new role working with the U16s.

He said: “I’m excited about it. It’s only in a part-time capacity, but it’s a great age group with the under 16s who are looking to get their scholarship for next year and hopefully I can improve them and help them to try and achieve their dream.

“The club where it is now in the National League is dependent on bringing players through, whether they get into the first team or whether we get them through to sell them on to bigger and better things which is what the club needs, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

On the pitch, it has been a transitional year for Orient, as initial promise under Steve Davis faded and the former Crewe boss was sacked in November after a 15 game winless run in the league.

However, the O’s finished the season strongly under head coach Justin Edinburgh, losing just two of their last eight games, and Orient had the best defensive record in the National League under the former Northampton Town man’s stewardship.

Mackie has been impressed with Edinburgh’s work so far and is hopeful that the O’s will be able to kick on next season.

He said: “I think the remit was at the start of the season to stabilize the club after the disasters of the past three years. It didn’t work out for Steve Davis but Justin has come in and steadied the ship and got them playing to a decent level and hopefully, he can kick on next season.”