ORIENT boss Geraint Williams admits that life in League One is going to be tough next season. There will be a lot of teams fighting it out for a top six place, that s for sure, admitted the Orient manager. With both Leeds United and MK Dons losing in th

ORIENT boss Geraint Williams admits that life in League One is going to be tough next season.

"There will be a lot of teams fighting it out for a top six place, that's for sure," admitted the Orient manager.

With both Leeds United and MK Dons losing in the play-off semi-finals and with Norwich City, Southampton and Charlton being relegated from the Championship, League One looks tougher than ever.

Although Andrew Cave-Brown and Loick Pires have agreed new one-year deals, Williams has just 13 players under contract and is still waiting for a decision from Sean Thornton and Scott McGleish, after they were offered deals for next term.

"Nothing has changed," said Williams. "But we are identifying players we want and are talking to agents.

"Looking at some of the sides we will be playing next season, they are going to have bigger budgets, but it's up to us to get the best players possible on the money we have.

"We have a list of targets and we will work our way down until we get the best players we can afford."

It's no secret that Williams is keen to use the loan market again next season and West Ham striker Freddie Sears has already been linked with a move to either Orient or Southend.

The O's have four pre-season friendlies lined up at Billiericay, Ebbsfleet and Bishop's Stortford, with the pick of the bunch being a visit to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, August 1. "That will be a good test for us. I saw them beat Brentford recently and it's a hard place to go," said Williams.