The Guardian understands former Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson is Leyton Orient's preferred choice to succeed Fabio Liverani and will meet with the club's hierarchhy to discuss the job.

Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale is also understood to have been on Orient's radar but Ferguson, who is currently also the bookmakers' favourite, is current in pole position to take the job.

Liverani left the O's by mutual consent a week ago and Steve Lomas, Paul Ince and Teddy Sheringham have all at one stage or another been tipped by the bookmakers to replaced the Italian.

Ferguson, 43, thrice won promotion with the Posh before being sacked earlier in February - less than a year after the O's beat Peterborough in the League One play-offs to secure their place at Wembley.

The Guardian Series approached the former Manchester United midfielder on Tuesday but he refused to comment on the job, stating he would never comment on speculation alone.

Son of Sir Alex Ferguson, he began his management career with the Posh in 2007 and steered the club from League Two into the Championship with consecutive promotions.

After struggling in the second tier, Ferguson left with Posh at the foot of the table by mutual consent in November 2009 to take the Preston North End job.

However, after an ill-fated stint with the Lilywhites, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wrexham player returned to London Road in January 2011 and just five months later sealed promotion back to the Championship via the League One play-offs.

Following a 3-2 defeat to Orient on aggregate in last year's play-offs, Ferguson was tasked with winning promotion out of the division for a third time but came up short and was relieved of his duties for a second time.

He has since stated his desire to return to work in time for the start of the 2015/16 season.

"This next decision is a huge one for me in terms of where I go with my managing career," he told BBC Sport.

"I'd love to get back for the start of pre-season. I can't turn too much down as I need to work but it needs to be right."