Williams pleased as Sean opts to stay on

ORIENT midfielder Sean Thornton has put pen to paper on a one year contract to stay with the east London club.

The 26-year-old was originally offered a new deal at the start of May, but after lengthy negotiations between the club and Thornton, he has committed himself for another year.

"We're delighted that Sean has signed his contract with the club," said Orient manager Geraint Williams.

"The fact that someone who was offered a new deal has signed showed that they believe in the ambition we have for the club.

"It is great news that Sean is staying as we continue to build the squad for next year."

There was still some semblance of doubt about Thorn-ton's decision earlier in the week, but his new deal adds to those signed by striker Scott McGleish, Andrew Cave-Brown and Loick Pires.

Williams is still on the hunt for personnel after releasing eight players at the end of the season, but one player the former Colchester boss was not willing to discuss was Medy Elito, whose recent troubles in Essex have been well-documented.

Williams spent 10 years at United and knows a lot about the tricky winger, who at one time was being watched by Manchester United.

"I don't like talking about players who are at other clubs," he said, keen to keep his cards very close to his chest.

"There is interest from a lot of clubs for a lot of players right now and I don't want to identify any players we might be looking at.

"It is okay for Real Madrid to do that because they have the finances to back it up, but if we, a League One club were to do that, bigger clubs would hear about the player and take him from under our noses. We have one of, if not the lowest budget in the division.

"I don't even want to reveal the positions for players I am after and I do not want to leave it late.

"There is no doubt we need to strengthen and I have made a lot of calls and held a lot of meetings to try and sort that out.