Leyton Orient director of football Martin Ling says that Ross Embleton “feels ready” to take on the head coach role at the club.

Embleton has been handed the position on a 12-month contract having held it in an interim capacity since Carl Fletcher’s departure in November, and Ling feels that the 38-year-old has got over any doubts that he had about taking the role previously.

Speaking to the club website, Ling said: “Ross’ own opinion is that he feels ready now. I think he’ll tell you himself that with Justin [Edinburgh] passing and then having to take over the reins, he felt that it was awkward for him. He felt sometimes he was doing things that Justin used to do and he can’t be that, he has to be his own man.

“I think with Carl coming in it gave him time to think and start doing it the way that Ross Embleton does it, not like Justin did it. I think in his own way he’s started to realise that he does it his way and that can be a successful way. You cannot be somebody else, you must be yourself and I think that’s the big thing.

“I’ve known him since he was 20 when I moved him over as youth coach so we wouldn’t be giving this job to Ross if we didn’t think he was up to it or if he didn’t want to do it, so I’m really comfortable that he’s ready to take the club forward where we want to go.”