Orient News
Ibehre's out as Ling axes six O's players
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| Striker Jabo Ibhere, who is on his way out of Orient in bid to give his career a lift (c) |
MARTIN Ling's summer clear-out began by him telling six players they didn't have a future at the club including Orient's current longest-serving player Jabo Ibehre.
The striker, who came through the ranks at Brisbane Road had made his first team debut in March 2000 but agreed with Ling that maybe his career had started to become stale.
Talking after the game on Saturday, he said: "I've had a great time at Orient, but maybe the time is right to see what else is out there.
"I've been at the club since I was 12 and it's a great family club because the fans have always been magnificent to me."
And O's manager Ling agreed that the time was now right for Ibehre to take on a new challenge.
He said: "There has always been lots of talk about the lad's potential, but maybe we've started to go around the houses for too long now.
"So I think the time is right for myself, the club and the player to move on now. It was probably the hardest decision I've had to make because I have had him since he was a youngster in the youth team."
Also joining Ibehre at the exit door at Brisbane Road, this week were Wayne Corden, Sam Oji, Efe Echanomi, Clayton Fortune and Rapheal Sylvester.
Reflecting on those decisions Ling added: "Wayne knew a while back that it was time to move on, but I would like to thank him for all he has done while he has been with the club.
"Sam was a hard decision to make as well, but I felt that he wasn't versatile enough to play in any other position and when you are working off a small squad you need some players to do that.
"Everyone knows it hasn't worked out for Clayton here and Efe and Rapheal have both struggled to progress following injuries."
The Orient boss also took the decision to place former Cheltenham winger JJ Melligan on the transfer list, despite him still having two years left on his contract.
"JJ has struggled to rediscover the form he showed at Cheltenham and I think it is best that he looks to find another club," stated Ling.
"That is not to say though that if he comes back at the start of next season and shows me he is still the same player I signed then he will start level with everyone else in July."
On-loan Tottenham youngsters Charlie Daniels and Andy Barcham also headed back to White Hart Lane, although Ling admits he will be looking to utilise the association he has built up with the north
London club again next season.
But for now the O's boss will wait to hear back from Paul Terry, Glenn Morris and Alton Thelwell about whether they will except the new contracts offered them, before making serious moves to sign new recruits.
12:04pm Wednesday 7th May 2008
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