Leyton Orient striker Ollie Palmer has hailed Kevin Nolan and says the former O's boss helped make him a better player.

Nolan was player manager of the club for just 15 games but Palmer says he was a big influence on him during that time.

He said: “Kevin Nolan has been fantastic for me. I think I’ve improved a hell of a lot in the last few months since he’s been here and I’d like to thank him for the help that he’s given me. He’s got a lot of knowledge and I definitely feel that I’ve improved and it’s good to get a couple of goals to end the season on a personal high.”

Nolan was appointed Orient boss in January but he was relieved of his managerial duties after a 3-0 defeat at Barnet last month extended the club’s winless run to four games.

He remained on the books as a player though but did not feature again because of an ankle injury although he remained around the club.

But Palmer says he learned plenty from him and his two winners in Orient’s last two games of the season underlined his confidence as the East Londoners finished one place shy of the play-offs.

Palmer got the decisive goal in the 1-0 win against his old club Mansfield Town in an all-action display where he terrorised his former paymasters and then he turned and finished smartly to score the winner, and his ninth of the season, seven days later as Orient saw out their season with a 1-0 win at Yeovil Town.

Now Palmer is looking forward to carrying his impressive end of season form into the next campaign.

He said: “I’ve got something to build on. I finished on a high this season. I’ve been happy with my performances of late and the goals I’ve been involved in.”

“I’m not too happy with my own goal return but I feel my partnership with Jay [Simpson] has been alright. I’ve been involved in a lot of his goals.”

Palmer’s end of season form, the return of Paul McCallum from his long-standing knee injury and the emergence of the club’s youngsters have provided some encouragement for the club’s fans to reflect on over the summer.

The return of Dean Cox next season from his cruciate ligament injury, which has kept him out since November, will be another boost.

Eighteen year-old keeper Sam Sargeant completed a memorable last few weeks of the season with a clean sheet on his debut at Yeovil as he celebrated signing his first professional deal and his elevation to an England goalkeeping camp.

Meanwhile, centre half Aron Pollock and midfielder Sandro Semedo also showed their impressive first league starts at home to Mansfield Town on the penultimate day of the season were not a flash in the pan as they followed up with further encouraging performances in the season’s finale at Yeovil, although injury ended Pollock’s afternoon early.

Midfielder Freddy Moncur recently signed a professional contract until the end of next season and the 19-year-old is hoping to push on next season after making two appearances during the last campaign.

Moncur told the club website: “I was really thankful to Ian Hendon for giving me my debut and he involved me so much as well so it is great to have had a taste of it this season.

“To play in front of the home crowd [against Staines Town] as well was a great feeling. That is what I wanted to achieve when I first joined the club. A big thanks has to go to the youth staff as well along the way.

“When I signed my third year scholarship I wasn’t sure what it would be like and I didn’t expect to be involved so much. But to get that 3pm matchday experience was a great feeling.

“I want to come back in pre-season, work hard and really push on. I want to get as much game time as possible next season.”