ORIENT assistant manager Dean Smith is monitoring the situation of possible player targets closely while O's boss Martin Ling takes a family holiday, writes Peter King.

The east Londoners, who are believed to be closely watching the developments of at least one Championship-level player, are in the market for a midfielder and a defender to complete their squad for League One.

And inspirational former captain Smith believes that the East Londoners can bring in two high quality players who will help boost last season's promotion winning squad.

He said: "Even though Martin is away I'm still in regular contact with him in regards the latest developments with the players we are looking at.

"I have been speaking to agents and players this week and if their was any movement from other clubs then I would be straight on the phone to Martin, so that we can act as quickly as possible.

"I already feel that we have a good squad to do well in League One next season, and hopefully if we can bring in the couple of additions we are after then we will certainly have plenty of competition for places."

Smith also believes that the O's biggest signings of the summer have already been completed after Wayne Corden and Jabo Ibehre put pen to paper on two-year deals at the end of last week, to complete a hat-trick for Ling with defender Adam Tann having already agreed a one-year contract at Brisbane Road earlier in the week.

Reflecting on those captures Smith said: "It was a major boost for us because they were three players we really wanted to keep.

"I thought Adam and Wayne did very well after joining us in the second half of the season and I believe Jabo will relish playing at a higher level next season."

And those words couldn't be more true, according to striker Ibehre.

He said: "I can't wait to get back to pre-season training, because I am so looking forward to next season now. I'm still only 23 and there's still a lot I want to achieve in the game and playing at a higher level can only help me develop as a player.

"I've always been confident that I have got the ability to play higher and I'm so keen now to come back, work hard and try and stake a bigger claim for a starting place next season.

"Itt was great to get the contract signed this early on, although I knew there was never going to be a problem because I always wanted to stay."

It is a similar story for defender Tann, who can't believe how events have unfolded over the last season after initially finding himself without a club at the start of the campaign following a contract dispute with former employers Cambridge United.

He said: "The last season was mental because as people know I had a lot of problems with Cambridge last summer and ended up going a long while without a club.

"I then went to Notts County for a bit, but the chance to come to Orient was too good to turn down and when I came here I set myself the two clear aims of helping the club win promotion and earning myself a new contract as well.

"To have done both now is brilliant and it will be great to get a pre-season under my belt after going without one last season.

"That can only help and it will be a big season for me in terms of getting my career back on track. i can't wait to play in League One now."

And it was the fact that Orient will be playing in the third tier of English football that persuaded 30-year-old former Scunthorpe winger Corden to uproot his family and move them south.

He said: "After joining in January on loan I was very impressed with the club and the manager, and after we secured promotion it help make up my mind to come here.

"It is a big move because I've had to relocate my family, but in footballing terms I know I've made the right decision."