TAMIKA Mkandawire is hoping he can help his new team make a challenge for the Championship.

The former Hereford United defender signed a three-year deal with League One Leyton Orient this week and wants to play a part in taking the east Londoners to a higher level.

He said: "I'm very excited at the prospect of playing in a higher league. That's what I wanted when I decided to leave Hereford so I'm pleased that the opportunity to do that has come about with Orient.

"It will be a challenge but I believe that I can play at this level and I'm looking forward to testing myself against better players.

"I know the manager wants us to be making a push for the Championship in the next couple of years so hopefully that can come with Orient. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm no different to any other player in that I want to play at as high a level as I can."

The 24-year-old spent nearly three years at Edgar Street but thought the time had come to seek a new challenge.

He said: "No disrespect to Hereford but in some respects you can stay in places for too long. I felt it was time to move on because I'm at a good age to step up to a bigger club.

"At Hereford I had been on one-year contracts so signing a three-year deal here is a relief. It obviously gives you more security and I'm very happy with that."

Orient expressed their interest with a failed £60,000 bid last year and manager Martin Ling made his move when contract talks broke down towards the end of the season.

Mkandawire added: "It's always nice to know that a team wants you and the fact that Orient were still interested a year on from their initial bid was certainly a big factor in me signing.

"Moving to London is an attraction but it was a football decision for me. It wouldn't have mattered where the team I was going to was as long as it was right for me."

Meanwhile, Hereford have been priced at 40/1 by bookmakers Blue Square to win the League Two title next season.

Peterborough United are 7/1 favourites to top the table, while newcomers Morecambe are 50/1 outsiders along with Mansfield and Accrington Stanley.