LEYTON Orient captain John Mackie this week spoke of his delight at winning the Supporters Club's Star Man and Away Player of the Season awards and also took the opportunity to urge defensive sensation Gabby Zakuani to remain at Brisbane Road next season despite growing speculation about the youngster's future, writes Peter King.

Influential skipper Mackie was at the heart of the O's promotion success and following an excellent run in the FA Cup, believes that the award he picked up at the Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell on Saturday caps a fantastic campaign.

And the former Reading defender, who also scooped the Players' Player of the Year and Vice President's Player of the Year awards at the club's ceremony a fortnight ago, said: "I can't be more pleased with the way the season has gone for both the club and on a personal level.

"At the start of the season the aim was to get promotion, which we achieved along with having a fantastic run in the FA Cup.

"But also to win these awards over the last few weeks is great and the ones I picked up on Saturday are really special to me, because they are from the supporters.

"The fans are there every week to see us play and when you get recogonised like this you can only be proud." Mackie also believes that he has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career and was quick to praise defensive partner Zakuani, who has been linked with a possible £1million move to Fulham.

Mackie said: "It is no secret that clubs are interested in him and it does look like he might move on to bigger things in the future. But while he would be training with better players every day if he left, there is a chance that he could just be sitting in another team's reserves, which isn't really going to help his progress.

"We are in League One next season and I seriously believe that we will be up there challenging to get into the Championship, so Gabby may just want to see what happens over the next 12 months.

"I know that he is happy at Orient anyway and it will be a good test for him to see if he can make the step up to the next level. Gabby is still only very young and if he can prove himself in League One then maybe he can really consider moving on to a Championship or even a Premiership club."

Other winners at the Supporters Club's awards night, included Matt Lockwood (Captain's Player of the Year and Achievement award) and Craig Easton (merit award).

Manager Martin Ling and assistant Dean Smith were presented with commemorative glassware gifts to mark their achievements in guiding the O's to promotion.