ORIENT boss Martin Ling has revealed he is set to make a double-swoop on the loan market this week for two strikers.

The news over the last few days that on-loan Spurs youngster Simon Dawkins faces up to a month on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury at Southend on Tuesday night, has left Ling with just two recognised strikers in Adam Boyd and Ryan Jarvis.

And after having a six-figure bid for a striker - thought to be Luton's Sam Parkin - turned down on Monday following the news that Wayne Gray has done his cruciate knee ligament.

Speaking after yesterday's win at Walsall, Ling said: “Without a doubt we need two forwards, because we've lost Gray for at least six months and Dawkins is looking like he will be out for up to a month.

“Hopefully I can get in a couple of short-term loans this week before the window closes just to strengthen that department.

“I have spoken to the chairman and the money is there for us to go and get those players.

“Boyd and Jarvis were excellent for us again today, but no disrespect to young Bradley Gray on the bench I don't really think the lad is ready yet as a third choice striker.

“So it is a case of going into the loan market, and while some people moan about it not being the answer you only have to look at how well Hereford used it last year to get promoted from League Two.

“And I know I've got connections at clubs to go, so the work is on-going now.”

The O's boss also rubbished suggestions that chairman Barry Hearn has not been handed the funds he was promised from the Nicky Shorey sell-on, after the O's old boy completed his move from Reading to Aston Villa this summer.

He continued: “There is spending and then there is spending in a different way.

“People have got to remember I've already brought in two players in on-loan and we have to pay the wages of both Dean Morgan and Luke Ashworth.

“Now that has taken us over what my wage bill was at the start of the year and I also had a six-figure bid turned down for a player on Monday at two o'clock.

“I know most Orient fans will probably turn around and say it is the same old story, but I can't help it if a bid falls through at the last minute.

“But now I've got to go and spend the money on two more players wages for at least 93 days, so while the money isn't being spent on a transfer fee, I'm still having to use it.

“I'm not saying all of the Shorey money is being spent, but some of it is being used by me as we speak and the chairman has told me the money is there for me to use.”