2017 a year in the life of a Leyton Orient supporter Other years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 A History of Leyton Orient FC 1965-1974 Page two, Page three, Page four 2018 Leyton Orient Diary from 1893. We started the year in 20th place. The first game was away at Exeter. 2 January Away to Exeter. 4-0. We conceded goals on 4 and 50 then Parkes gave away a penalty and another was added eight minutes from time. All three injured players against Cambridge were not available and Edwards decided not to play the transfer listed Simpson. This was a mistake as he is one of our most experienced players. If the goods are not on display you won’t sell them. This meant we had five players on the bench with little or no experience. Mistakes were made by Judd, Parkes x2 and Atangana. Team: 1 Cisak, 6 Parkes, 7 Erichot, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 3 Kennedy, 15 Atangana, 9 Palmer, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 8 Weir(Palmer 73), 21 Bowery, 24 Sargeant, 28 Koroma(Kennedy 59), 25 Pollock, 26 Adeboyejo(Weir 87), 32 Ochieng. Home to 9th place Barnet next. Accrington let in a late goal to keep us 20th in the table. Nathan Clarke left Bradford City to join Russell Slade at Coventry City. Cox was linked to a move to Coventry but quashed the rumour. A similar rumour of a move made on Simpson by Shrewsbury was also denied. Omozusi was released by Cambridge after making 11(5) apps. 3 January. We released Doherty and Benedicic. Total Orient list players out of contract in the summer as Moore, McCallum, Simpson, Palmer, Grainger, Semedo, Dunne, Cisak, Atangana, Moncur, Hunt, Kennedy, Janse and N’Nomo (though we have a years option on him). 6 January. The death was announced of Paul Went. This is what the club website had to say. Born in Bow in 1949 he is the youngest player to appear in an Orient shirt aged 15 years and 327 days when facing Preston North End in a 2-2 draw on September 4, 1965. He signed professional forms a year later, and during his first spell at the O’s he made 50 appearances and scored five goals before leaving the club to join Charlton Athletic in June 1967 in a deal which helped keep the club afloat. Went would also go on to feature for Fulham, Portsmouth and Cardiff City before making a return to Orient in September 7, 1978, and playing another 45 league games for the club, scoring a further three goals. After finishing his playing career at the club, Went became the club’s reserve coach and club scout before taking over the managerial reins for a 21-day spell in the 1980-81 season. Went continued his association with the club, acting as a matchday host for a number of seasons. Weir, who was stretchered off against Exeter would be out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee. 7 January. Home to Barnet. 1-3 (McCallum). Again goalless at half time we capitulated on 63’. 66’ and 90+2. McCallum headed us a consolation goal on 79 but he made no impact on the game against an in form Bees. Edwards dropped Judd to the bench and relied on the more experienced Mezague. Little hope that we will survive this division despite Edwards declaring that we have the players to do the job. Team: 1 Cisak, 6 Parkes, 7 Erichot, 16 Hunt, Mezague, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 3 Kennedy, 15 Atangana, 28 Koroma,10 McCallum. Substitutes, 21 Bowery, 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 25 Pollock, 9 Palmer(Mezague 67), 18 N’Nomo(Koroma 73), 23 Moncur. Down to 21st. Away to 4th placed Portsmouth next. Rumour in the clubroom was that Simpson would get £50,000 on completion of 100 games. In all he has played 98 games for us. Another rumour according to the local Guardian was that Francesco Becchetti is looking to sell the club and no money would be made available for new players. Simpson went to the USA. Not for holidays and for an undisclosed fee. He joined Philadelphia Union. Moore was recalled from his loan at Dover giving some credence to the rumour about lack of cash. Connor Essam left Eastleigh to join Dover on loan. 9 January. Academy manager Richard Thomas departs the club. 14 January. Away to Portsmouth. 2-1 (Massey). Moore started and gave away a penalty though Cisak saved it and Massey scored what could be the goal of the season. 1-1 at half time but two minutes in Pompey got the winner. No marking for either goal (Judd and Parkes). Team: 1 Cisak, 29 Judd, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 19 Mezague, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 15 Atangana, 14 Moore, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 28 Koroma, 3 Kennedy, 21 Bowery(Moore 69), 24 Sargeant, 25 Pollock, 9 Palmer (Semedo 89), 18 N’Nomo. 17 January. Bowery was loaned to Crewe until the end of the season. 18 January. Alan Dunne: Defender left by mutual consent. The local Guardian reported the transfer listing of Parkes, Cisak and Kennedy. The owner seems to think he has a better chance of selling the club from the division below. A bigger fool than I thought he was. 20 January. Strange headlines ‘Mr Becchetti doesn’t play on Saturday’ – Leyton Orient owner puts club up for sale. From the local Guardian. Leyton Orient release bizarre 'Google Translated' statement criticising fans and players as club put up for sale said the Independent. The followed a statement from the club. The Independent said: A statement from chief executive Alessandro Angelieri has defended Becchetti's disastrous reign while hitting out at players such as Jordan Bowery, who was recently loaned out to Crewe. "In regards to player departures...Jordan Bowery's contribution during the first half of the season was imperceptible, so his departure can be considered neutral. "(The players at the club now have) a massive desire that was lacking from players in the past like Darius Henderson, Jobi McAnuff and Jordan Bowery." 21 January. Should have been at home to Morecambe but with heavy frosts all week it was postponed. Nolan was give the managers job at Notts County. St Albans City completed the signing of Jamie Cureton following his departure from National League side Eastleigh. Also at Eastleigh Connor Essam has taken the option of a return closer to his home with a loan arrangement to join league rivals Dover Athletic until the end of the season. Jordan Spence joined Ipswich having been without a club since leaving MK Dons in the summer. He played 21 games for us whilst on loan from West Ham November 2008-June 2009. After leaving us he was loaned to Scunthorpe, Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday before signing for the Dons in August 2014 after having two loan spells with them. Terrell Forbes left Grays. Tom Carroll left Spurs for £4.5m joining Swansea. Shaquile Coulthirst (Peterborough) was loaned to Mansfield and scored on his debut. Josh Doherty has joined Ards. 28 January. Away to Mansfield 2-0. In the zone, the relegation one. The normal goalless first half was followed by the normal capitulation. Edwards continued to tinker with the side this time dropping Judd and Atangana. At full time we had only 41% of the play with no shots on target and only five all match. We committed 21 fouls though. Collins contract was extended to the end of the season. Team: 1 Cisak, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 19 Mezague, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 14 Moore, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo, 30 Dalby. Substitutes, 29 Judd, 24 Sargeant, 15 Atangana, 9 Palmer (Dalby 58), 23 Moncur, 26 Adeboyejo(McCallum 90+2), 34 Clark. 29 January. Edwards resigns to take up a coaching role with the FA. Danny Webb son of Dave who started his career with the O’s was given the managers job. Newport County have signed 11 players to avoid relegation. 31 January. Ollie Palmer was loaned to Luton and N’Nomo to Paris FC whilst we got Rowan Liburd on loan from Stevenage until the end of the season. The striker has made a total of 9(22) appearances for Reading, Wycombe and Stevenage scoring three goals. 0.03 goals per league game. That does not sound any better than Palmers record 84(69) scoring 29. 0.17 goals per league game. Comment A couple of times this season the Fans View in the local Guardian has offered the opinion that Becchetti is not totally at fault for our plight. Given that opinions are not necessarily based on facts here are mine. The managers. We have been taken from the brink of Championship football to relegation to the National League. Of the eight managers he has employed (since Slade's departure), he has employed two who cannot speak English, one who didn't want the job, one that did but was not given much of a chance and three with little (Hendon) or no (Nolan and Edwards) managerial experience. None had any league managerial success. Hessenthaler's success coming with non league Dover. Slade may well have orchestrated his departure away from the club and Becchetti's belief what is said in the dressing room should have stayed there is admiral however it seems to be a case of don't do what I do when he later publicly shamed Henderson for turning up late, due, as we learnt later, no fault of his own. The quality of the managers has to be in doubt. The players. If it is true, and I don't have evidence either way, that ALL arrivals and departures in E10 were the work of the managers then Becchetti is innocent. However I cannot believe the departure of Cox, Clohessey and to a lesser extent Kashket (the three made a total of 1082 starts) was a managerial decision. Nor can I believe any manager would sign a player who had surgery that would keep him out of the side for three months or sign players with no English football experience. N’Nomo and Mezague had only played 99 games between them. Zan Benedicic and Jens Janse got temporary contracts but played only 7(3) games. Signed by a manager? The McAnuff debacle cannot have been a managerial decision could it. If he had played all those months maybe we would have made the playoffs? Why would Becchetti want to interfere with team selection? A subject about which he probably has no knowledge or expertise. The case for the prosecution rests. Do judges still have to put a black cloth on their bonce when pronouncing the sentence? 4 February. Home to Carlisle. 1-2 (Massey). Can’t beat ten men. Despite Massey putting us in the lead it went belly up when Collins gave away a free kick on the edge of the area resulting in a tap in goal. Marking should have been by Judd, his side of the goal. The second was a mistake by Judd leaving a tap in from Procter who was on loan and was later sent off. No Cisak? Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 15 Atangana, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 22 Semedo, 20 Liburd, 30 Dalby. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 19 Mezague(Kennedy 83), 28 Koroma, 26 Adeboyejo(Dalby 77), 4 Kelly, 14 Moore(Liburd 60), 37 Enrichot. 8 February. Home to Morcambe 0-1. Goalless at half time it took a wonder strike on 73 to see all points go north. I was sitting next to someone who had not been this season and his belief was the team only passed the ball because they were afraid to do something with it. Nobody could control the ball and Semedo was not as good as he thought he was. An injury to Kennedy gave Enrichot a start. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 15 Atangana, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 22 Semedo, 30 Dalby, 26 Adeboyejo. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 19 Mezague, 28 Koroma(Adeboyejo 90), 4 Kelly(Collins 90), 14 Moore, 37 Enrichot, 20 Liburd(Dalby 77). Only 2660 bothered to tun up. 9 February. Leyton Orient Face The Full Fury Of A Spiteful Owner Scorned was the headline in the Guardian. 13 February. Martin Samuel writing in the Daily Mail. Vandal owner leads Orient to oblivion On April 30, 2011, Stockport County lost 2-0 at Crewe, and fell out of the Football League for the first time since 1905. They have never been back. Indeed, they are even further away now, relegated to the Conference North in 2012-13. They are part-time, have lost ownership of their Edgeley Park ground and a recent ‘Moving Forward’ document, mapping out the future, set 2020 as their earliest realistic return. Stockport currently lie sixth in the Conference North, outside the play-off places. At 110 years, they have the longest League membership of any club beyond the top four divisions. Since the club fell, there have been nine other teams that have joined them and had the opportunity to get back. Three did and five others currently occupy places in the top half of the Conference. Only Hereford United, who went out of business, and reformed as Hereford several leagues below, have fared worse. All of which should be a cautionary tale for the clowns in charge at Leyton Orient. They think they can let the club sink, and it will rise again? There is no guarantee. Orient’s problems mirror Stockport’s: a small club crushed by proximity to several Premier League teams. Why do you think they always played on Friday night? Stockport were under pressure, being roughly seven miles equidistant from the two Manchester clubs, City and United. Orient, if anything, have it worse: West Ham across the road, Arsenal and Tottenham nearby. If they lose their League status what is on offer, beside the chance for supporters to demonstrate extremes of devotion? Orient could easily go the same way as Stockport. The truly loyal will remain, but others may be lost. There are likely to be tickets on offer at the London Stadium next year and even those who find Premier League football, and prices, unpalatable have plenty of alternatives nearby. Yet if Stockport slipped due to mismanagement, Orient are suffering an act of pure vandalism. It is almost as if Francesco Becchetti is tanking the club in a fit of pique, after fans demonstrated against his ownership last November. He no longer attends, he won’t invest and his only communication with supporters has been a long-winded and garbled statement from chief executive Alessandro Angelieri which claimed ‘a squad without future was inherited’. This would be the squad that achieved Orient’s highest league position in 32 years, and missed out on promotion to the Championship in a play-off final penalty shootout with Rotherham. Becchetti has been through 10 managers — and served a six-match ban for kicking one of them — and put the club in upwards of £9m debt. In his two and a half years, Orient have gone from promotion contenders to falling through one division, and may drop again unless new manager Danny Webb can turn a rudderless ship around. If they go, Orient will take Stockport’s most unenvied record, having served 112 years as a Football League club. Whether they will add to that number soon is the real worry, although not, it seems, for the vindictive Becchetti. 11 Februrary. Away to Yeovil 1-1(Massey). We went a goal down just before half time when for the third time in as many matches Sargeant parried a save into the path of the opposition. We left it to the 88th minute to get a point thanks to Massey. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 37 Enrichot, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 15 Atangana, 4 Kelly, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 22 Semedo, 20 Liburd. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 30 Dalby, 23 Moncur, 3 Kennedy(Enrichot 45), 19 Mezague, 28 Koroma(Atangana 65), 10 McCallum(Liburd 54). 14 February. Away to Plymouth 2-3 (Massey 2, Semedo). Not the result expected when the second team in the table meets the one second from bottom. Two of the three players substituted against Yeovil played no part in the match nor did McCallum. Things were going the Argyle way as early as the 10’ when they took the lead. Massey drew us level just before half time but a further goal nine minutes after the break took the Pilgrims back into the lead. Massey must have had eight shots at goal without success and their Taylor committing as many fouls without being booked. Argyle made two substitutions through injury and maybe that took their edge off. Massey scored a second on 88’ and Semedo gave us all the points on 90’+4 to send most of the 8054 attendees home unhappy. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 28 Koroma, 4 Kelly, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 22 Semedo, 30 Dalby. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 23 Moncur, 19 Mezague, 26 Adeboyejo, 31 Alzate, 34Clark, 20 Liburd. Still second from bottom but jointly so with Cheltenham who lost and a point behind Notts County (our next opponents at home) who could only draw at home to Exeter. Match of the night would have been at Mansfield where being 0-2 down to Accrington drew back to 3-3 before ending four all. Stanley are also on 30 points to our 29. Kelly was accused of pushing a ball boy to the ground. 18 February. Home to Notts County 2-3 (McCallum, Mezague). As much as we won the Plymouth game through injury to players we lost this one when Parkes was stretchered off after ten minutes. What should have happened was he was replaced by another defender but no we bought on Dalby and shuffled. Hunt was absent through suspension and Kelly had started his six match band following the shove on the ballboy. We went a goal down on 35 and another three minutes after half time. Though we fought back through McCallum who headed home a rebound from the crossbar and a thunderbolt from Mezague on 81 but it took only another three minutes for County to take the points. Semedo had a nightmare with his crosses which in the main never found anyone. Kept the crowd on their toes though. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 19 Mezague, 28 Koroma, 15 Atangana, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 23 Moncur, 14 Moore, 31 Alzate, 34 Clark, 30 Dalby(Parkes 10), 20 Liburd. Home to Cheltenham next and they are three points above us. 25 February. Home to Cheltenham 0-1. We would have got a point but Kennedy missed a penalty. I think Webb has got this wrong. What we need is experienced players. In this instance Moore and Cisak should be playing. Young players make mistakes whereas older ones should not. Young players losing week after week will do nothing for their confidence. Dalby has been ineffectual in most matches. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 19 Mezague, 28 Koroma, 15 Atangana, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 25 Pollock, 14 Moore, 31 Alzate, 34 Clark(parkes 45), 30 Dalby(Koroma 65), 20 Liburd(McCallum 73). Away to Stevenage next and Hunt should return from suspension. They are ninth in the table. Then away to Newport who are three points behind us. 28 February. Away to Sevenage 4-1 (McCallum). We went two nil down by the 22’ via a penalty from Hunt. McCallum headed home two minutes later but two goals in the second half put paid to any points. Parkes played no part in the match and was replaced by Clarke nor did Atangana replaced by Moore. Team: 24 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 34 Clark, 28 Koroma, 14 Moore, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 38 Happe, 26 Adeboyejo)McCallum 83), 31 Alzate(Semedo 63), 19 Mezague, 30 Dalby(Koroma 65), 23 Moncur(Moore 60). 1 March. HMRC were to take the club to court for non payment of taxes. Bechetti has until the 20th to pay up or the club will be wound up and deducted 10 points effectively relegating us. If we are not already. 4 March. Away to bottom club Newport. 0-4 (Koroma 3, Alzate). We were two goals up after 13’ thanks to Alzate and Koroma. Koroma completed his hat trick on 64’ scoring from the penalty spot after Alzate was fouled. In between them was a goal just before half time with a right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sam Dalby. Tristan Abrahams replaced Josh Koroma four minutes after his hat trick. Massey was suspended whilst Atangana was injured. Neither McCallum nor Enrichot played any part in the match. Team: 12 Grainger, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 34 Clark, 28 Koroma, 23 Moncur, 7 Collins, 30 Dalby, 31 Alzate, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 38 Happe, 26 Adeboyejo(Dalby 84), 14 Moore, 35 Abrahams(Koroma 68), 32 Ochieng,19 Mezague(Moncur 87). Other results did not go our way with Hartlepool, Crewe and Accrington all winning. Notts County were the only losers putting them five poi nts above us. Teams above them were a point or two away. Home to thirteenth place Grimsby next. 6 March. Slade was sacked at Coventry yesterday. An American company has made two bids for the club but they have not been answered. Koroma broke a few records according to O’s historian Neil Kaufman: At the age of 18 years, three months and 24 days, Koroma now has the accolade of the O's youngest ever hat-trick hero following his treble in South Wales on Saturday In the process, he also became the 78th Football League hat-trick for the O's and is the 61st different Orient player to achieve the feat. Although striker Shaun Batt netted a hat-trick for Orient in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy back on September 3, 2013 against Gillingham, Koroma's hat-trick is the first to achieve the feat in the league since Ryan Jarvis netted three goals in the 5-2 away win at Millwall on February 20, 2007. Koroma's hat-trick is also the 16th Orient treble scored away from home in the Football League. 10 March. Leyton Orient's prospective buyers are still very interested in the club despite what league they are in next season, the East London Guardian Series understands. According to a report by Talksport, owner Francesco Becchetti is unwilling to sell until he knows whether the O's will be in League Two or the National League. The unnamed American company interested in purchasing the club have now made five approaches, but are still yet to receive a response. The most recent of those communications was made on Wednesday night. I would have thought it would be obvious what league we will be in if they fail to pay HMRC. Barry Hearn rued the day he sold the club to Becchetti in a BBC interview. Even the Waltham Forest council were against him. 11 March. Home to Grimsby 0-3. Men against boys. A goal after 7’, an own goal by Kednnedy on 71 put paid to any hope of points, They got their third three minutes from time. Team: 12 Grainger, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 28 Koroma, 23 Moncur, 7 Collins, 30 Dalby, 31 Alzate, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 15 Atangana, 20 Liburd, 35 Abrahams(Dalby 84), 34 Clark, 32 Ochieng,19 Mezague. Away to 18th placed Accrington. Massey will have served his two match ban but Robbie Weir (ACL), Yvan Erichot (groin), Paul McCallum (fibula) and Sammy Moore (knee) all remain unavailable. Kelly will sit out the last of his suspension. 14 March. Away to Accrington. 5-0. Bottom. 1-0 at half time it went pear shaped in the last 15 minutes. Only four of our seven shots were on target. Team: 12 Grainger, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 16 Hunt, 28 Koroma, 23 Moncur, 7 Collins, 30 Dalby, 11 Massey, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 15 Atangana(Moncur 45), 20 Liburd(Dalby 52), 35 Abrahams, 34 Clark, 31 Alzate, 19 Mezague(Hunt 43). 18 March. Home to Doncaster. 1-4 (Parkes) Undone by old boys. 1-1 at half time and it took a 70 yard run and goal from Parkes to put us level. In the end Marquis scored two and Baudry one to sink us. Biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the return of Cisak. Too many mistakes said Webb. That’s what you get playing youngsters. Hunt and Kennedy were injured. Of the six shots we had only one was on target. I cannot remember Semedo or Korma putting in a cross and Massey played in the centre which is not a good position for him as he cannot head a ball. Team: 1 Cisak, 25 Pollock, 34 Clark, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 22 Semedo, 15 Atangana, 28 Koroma, 7 Collins, 4 Kelly, 11 Massey. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 20 Liburd(Dalby 52), 35 Abrahams, 23 Moncur, 31 Alzate(Atangana 88), 19 Mezague, 38 Happe, 30 Dalby(Koroma 77). 20 March. Winding up. BBC headline was “Francesco Becchetti given until 12 June to pay debts or sell. The League Two side were the subject of a winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue & Customs over unpaid taxes. Those debts now been paid, but money is owed to four other creditors. Chief executive Alessandro Angelieri gave the court a statement saying Becchetti would invest £1m to pay off remaining debts in eight to 10 weeks.” One problem is that if we are wound up in June and relegated by then we will incur a 10(12?) point penalty which effectively may relegate us again. 25 March. Away to Crawley 3-0. Three goals down after 32 minutes and not a short on target after 90. Team: 24 Sargeant, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 22 Semedo, 15 Atangana, 28 Koroma, 4 Kelly, 11 Massey, 31 Alzate. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 20 Liburd(Koroma 62), 35 Abrahams, 34 Clark, 23 Moncur, 32 Ochieng(Atangana 81), 19 Mezague(Parkes 12). 30 March. Webb resigns. Rumour has it that he wanted commitment from the owner regarding next season. He won only two of his 12 games in charge. Assistant manager Omer Riza has been put in charge until the end of the season. 1 April. Home to Wycombe 0-2. Can’t win with ten men, can’t beat 11 players and a referee. Janse returns, no Atangana or Massey, no goalie on the bench. Parkes got sent off on 28 and Wanderers got all points with two goals in ten minutes following the sending off. Team: 24 Sargeant, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 19 Mezague, 46 Janse, 16 Hunt, 22 Semedo, 28 Koroma, 4 Kelly, 7 Collins, 20 Liburd. Substitutes, 30 Dalby(Liburd 73) 31 Alzate(Koroma 80), 35 Abrahams(Janse 65), 34 Clark, 23 Moncur, 32 Ochieng, 39 Janata. A win by Cheltenham put us nine points from safety. About six too many. Talk in the supporters club before the match was that Massey refused to play as he had not been paid. All the senior players have causes in their contracts regarding relegation. Whilst these rumours may be true you would have to ask who and how would know. Someone with access to contracts? Now here’s a rarity, news of the injury list. Groin injuries to Cisak, Grainger and Atangana. Moore will not play again for us this season due to knee tendinopathy. Judd has a back injury. Erichot has a pelvic problem. Massey has a tear in his hamstring and may only play in the last game of the season. McCallum has a knee injury won’t be back much before the Hartlepool match at best and Weir is still ongoing. The club preview of the Cambridge match gave no indication who would or could play. The players have still yet to be paid. Seems the owners incompetence extends to those he employs. 8 April. Away to Cambridge. 3-0. Goals on 31, 41 and 53 put us ten points adrift at the bottom of the table. We had four shots at goal only one of which was on target. Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 23 Moncur, 38 Happe, 22 Semedo, 28 Koroma, 4 Kelly, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 20 Liburd. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 30 Dalby, 35 Abrahams(Liburd 60), 32 Ochieng(Happe 77), 26 Adeboyejo, 40 Barker, 42 McClean. 12 April Slade was appointed boss at Grimsby. 15 April. Away to Luton. 2-2 (Kelly p, Abrahams). We went 1-2 up before letting in a goal 17mins from time. Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 19 Mezague, 22 Semedo, 4 Kelly, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 32 Ochieng, 30 Dalby, 26 Adeboyejo. Substitutes, 12 Grainger, 35 Abrahams(Dalby 45), 40 Barker, 36 Alderson, 28 Koroma, 23 Moncur, 38 Happe, 20 Liburd. Nugent was sacked at Barnet. 17 April. Home to Hartlepool. 2-1 (Adeboyejo, Abrahams). Can beat ten men albeit on 90'+1. For the second game running we went a goal down before Adeboyejo scored on 18' and Abrahams secured the points on 31'. The monley hangers were two places and seven points above us. Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 19 Mezague, 22 Semedo, 4 Kelly, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 35 Abrahams, 32 Ochieng, 26 Adeboyejo. Substitutes, 10 McCallum(Alzate), 30 Dalby, 28 Koroma(Adeboyeo), 23 Moncur(Abrahams 84), 38 Happe, 39 Janata, 46 Janse. 19 April. I attended the Supporters Club AGM. They had no idea what was going on only that the were not able to get a response from the owner nor his sidekick. The chairman had been approached by ex players wanting to be involved with the club be that was impossible to do as they were not answering emails. They would not be handing over any money to the football club until new owners are in place. They confirmed that non of the staff had been paid and the groundsman had to pay for petrol for the lawn mower from his own pocket. I entered the meeting thinking that the worse our idiot owner could do in June was to take the club into adminstration thereby getting 12 points deducted and fighting relegation for another season but no, the worse that could happen is he could put the club into liquidation and into oblivion much the same as happened to Wimbledon and find ourselves in some obscure Essex league 22 April. Away to Crewe. 3-0. Relegated. Two shots the whole match and only one on target ended our 112 year stay in the Football League. No Kelly and why was Kennedy on the bench? Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 19 Mezague, 22 Semedo, 6 Parkes, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 35 Abrahams, 32 Ochieng, 26 Adeboyejo. Substitutes, 3 Kennedy, 10 McCallum(Mezague), 30 Dalby(Adeboyejo), 28 Koroma(Collins 45), 23 Moncur, 39 Janata, 46 Janse. 24 April. Barry Hearn quits as Leyton Orient honorary president as EFL demands club response said the BBC. They continued: Barry Hearn has resigned as Leyton Orient's honorary president with the club having still not paid staff their wages for March. His resignation comes as the EFL said it was "exceptionally concerned" about the situation at the club. The EFL said it had sought answers from the owners without success. "Silence is not an acceptable response," it added. 29 April. Home To Colchester. 1-3 Semedo. Abandoned. All was going well after Semedo cancelled their 26' goal on 52' but a horrendous backpass by Janse followed by poor defending gave the U's a flattering 1-3 win. Fans flooded the pitch and the game was abandoned. BBC Essex reported "At 16:40 BST the players went off. At 16:48 BST it was abandoned. At 18:43 BST the players came back out." Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 46 Janse, 22 Semedo, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 35 Abrahams, 10 McCallum, Substitutes, 18 N'Nomo, 19 Mezague, 32 Ochieng, 26 Adeboyejo(McCallum 67), 28 Koroma(Janse 79), 23 Moncur(Collins 85), 39 Janata. Club pays staff wages and clears debts to HMRC. However, BBC London understands some freelance contractors at the club are still yet to be paid. Orient staff were not paid their wages for March on time, forcing some to relocate as they were unable to make rent or mortgage payments. Owner Francesco Becchetti has been given until 12 June to sell the club or pay off all his debts to creditors. In a statement on 24 April, the English Football League said it had asked the club for a "further commitment" that funds would be put into the club to pay staff and avoid the winding-up petition, but that they had not received a response. Former owner Barry Hearn also resigned from his role as honorary president, saying he "could not be associated with any company that does not pay its staff their due wages on time". 5 May. Sky Sports reported that Becchetti was in talks to sell the club. 6 May. Away to Blackpool. 3-1 Janse. Goals on 11, no challenge to a header, 36 no marking and 65 were enough to send Blackpool into the playoffs. A goal from Janse on 50' gave us a momentory chance of glory. Team: 24 Sargeant, 34 Clark, 25 Pollock, 46 Janse, 23 Moncur, 32 Ochieng, 22 Semedo, 3 Kennedy, 7 Collins, 31 Alzate, 35 Abrahams, Substitutes, 26 Adeboyejo(Moncur 53), 28 Koroma(Abrahams 64), 30 Dalby, 36 Alderson, 38 Happe(Pollock 84), 43 Perkins, 39 Janata. Hartlepool, ten points above us were also relegated despite beating promoted Doncaster. All four teams in the playoffs have ex O's in them. Blackpool with Gnanduillet and Payne, Luton, Cuthbert and Palmer, Exeter and James. Carlisle with Jabbo and Nicky Adams. Ex O's scoring today were a hat trick from Dagnall and one for Cox whose manager was sacked earlier in the week. So who is out of contract? Liburd is on loan and will return to Stevenage. Collins, Moore, McCallum, Palmer, Grainger. Semedo, Cisak, Atangana, Moncur, Hunt, Kennedy, N'Nomo even though he has a one year extension option. Janse. I don't seen any of them returning especially if the club has not been sold and therefore does not have a new manager. Massey, Kelly and Parkes may have relegation clauses in their contracts so will may never see them again. Mezague has another two years on his contract but managers seem reluctant to play him. Semedo may well get offers elsewhere but his crosses toward goal leave a lot to be desired. If I were appointing managers then none of the last three would have got my vote. The problem with running a youth team side is that you play to a system to beat others. Nobody, unlike playing in the league, is watching you. They hope their system will beat yours. I tested this theory on my nephew who played football in his day. I asked him if he was told anything about the opposition, say, the centre half is a big lump so play the ball to the feet. Note the winger is a bit lively so Bert, keep a eye on him or a foot etc. He did not. I did not like the antics of any of these managers. They relied totally on youth which was a mistake. There were times when Cisak, Mezague, Enricot, Moore, McCallum, Atangana, Kennedy and Janse were on the bench. Experienced players should not make the mistakes of the young. Surely losing by three goals every week without much more than a single shot on target is sapping on moral let alone confidence. Players like Dalby may well score 20 goals a season against boys of their own age and weight. Not sure how tall he is or what he weighs as the club website has no player profile but against someone of 12st 6ibs and 6'2" of say a vastly more experience 261 game Parkes he stands no chance. And didn't. Not sure that putting young players in and then out the team does their moral any good at all. Xenophobia is not a word I came across at school, we barely made it to B in the dictionary and why I know what an aardvark is. A shame really because I'm sure there are many interesting words starting with C. As an Orient supporter now is as good a time as any to be xenophobic. Not since 1939 has xenophobia and Italians been used so much in the same sentence. Then we locked up every German and Italian we could find living in the UK. Can we bring that back for Italians? We were not alone in this practise as the Yanks did the same to the Japanese in 1942. Mr Sulu, George Takei of Star Trek fame was a five year-old locked up. He was very critical of the practise but other than doing nothing and hoping there were no spies amongst them I don't see what else the leaders of both countries could have done. My feeling with Becchetti is that come June he will put the club into administration thereby making it likely we will be relegated two seasons running. He really did not like the protest against him at the match against Blackpool and decided on revenge. The Radio 4 programme The Reunion were discussing the Libyan Embassy Protest of April 1984. I could but wonder at the similarities between Becchetti and Gaddafi. Gaddafi did not like criticism and people either disappeared or were executed. The protest followed the execution of two students who had criticised Gaddafi. Players disappearing in the case of Becchetti. A young police woman was killed that day and one thing that Gaddafi did not do was turn the murderer over to the police. Kevin Nolan said in the Nottingham Post "Mr Becchetti wanted to be fully involved. He wanted me to play certain players and I just wasn't willing to do that." Jay Simpson reported on the Orient Outlook Podcast that during the summer of 2015 Becchetti had told his agent it would be better if Jay moved on. No doubt Henderson, Lowry and McAnuff were told the same? Why would Becchetti want to interfere with team selection? A subject about which he probably has no knowledge or expertise. Would he allow a football manager to run his empire? It is rumoured that Americans are interested in our club. That's good they are our allies. Really? WWI started in July 1914. The Yanks joined WWI in April 1917 and even the sinking of the passenger liner RMS Lusitania in May 1915 and the loss of 128 American lives did not encourage them to join the war. However a document known as the Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted in January 1917 and pronounced genuine on March 3. Then the Yanks joined the war. The telegram was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the German Foreign Office in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico in the event of the United States entering World War I against Germany. Mexico would be given Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. September 1st 1939 was when WWII started but the Yanks were forced to join WWII because the Japanese Navy and Air Forces bombed Pearl Harbour on Sunday, Dec 7, 1941. On Monday, Dec 8, 1941, America declared war on Japan. The same day, Germany declared war on the USA. So they did not join the war in Europe, they were invited. Allies? I liken the Americans to the old tag team wrestling bouts where the badies, Steve Logan and Mick McManus (Italy and Germany) would ignore the rules and both be in the ring at the same time knocking Bow Bells out of Vic Faulkner (Britain) for three rounds until brother Bert Royal (America) joined the fray. Never sure how Bert and Vic were brothers as one was tall, dark and balding whilst the other short and fair. Like calling Morecambe and Wise brothers. I will consult my wrestling correspondent for comment. So no Italian holidays for me, or cars or wine nor tins of tomatoes. Or even pasta. Condemnation of Becchetti has been universal. Leyton Orient facing the full fury of a spiteful owner scorned said the Guardian Not thrift for purpose Leyton Orient owner Francesco Becchetti leaves £20million mansion… but fails to pay long-serving staff member just £6,000. The Italian was seen in Mayfair this month, but did not appear in court today where his rock-bottom side still owe money to creditors said the Sun. In the Daily Mail: Owners like Leyton Orient's Francesco Becchetti think they can destroy a club... but they can never take its soul Francesco Becchetti has run Leyton Orient aground on the shores of his ego. There are people — or companies — like Becchetti dotted all around our leagues. The Mirror: MP slams Leyton Orient owner Francesco Becchetti for causing "mayhem" over unpaid £250k tax bill. Francesco Becchetti to blame for Leyton Orient’s sad relegation from Football League was the headline in the East London Advertiser. James Olley writing in the London Standard called Becchetti a capricious egotist incapable of running a team. My wrestling correspondent confirms that the Royal Brothers really were brothers and are still with us though resembling ageing bank managers these days. Incidentally our “allies” were also guilty of raising money to bomb and kill innocent Britons via the IRA. Dancer Gene Kelly was one such donater. I trust he is not resting in peace. Sammy Moore became the manager at Leatherhead and was joined by Clohessey from Braintree. Kelly signed for Coventry, McCallum for Eastleigh and Atangana for Cheltenham though if they signed him for his goalscoring abilities they would be disappointed at one goal from nearly 100 apps. Northampton have released Harry Beautyman (he eventually joined Stevenage) but offered another contract to Gabriel Zakuani. Ryan Brunt was released by Plymouth as was Paul Rachubka at Bury. David Mooney was released by Southend. Hakan Hayrettin was sacked as Braintree manager. Stephen Dawson left Scunthorpe for Bury on a free. Alan McCormack joined Luton from Brentford on a free. 4 June. Millionaire businessman gives Leyton Orient Tuesday deadline to push through £4million takeover was the headline in the online Mirror. They said: Millionaire businessman Alan Bowers has given Leyton Orient a deadline of Tuesday to push through his takeover. Bowers has made a £4m offer but is running out of time and patience for the deal to go ahead and is ready to walk away unless he gets an answer. Former West Ham and Norwich player Bowers is leading a consortium of East London businessmen and has met with the club’s Italian owner Francesco Becchetti. Bowers made his money after leaving professional football and setting up property companies in England and Spain. He has had huge support from within the game from former team mates and football contacts to try to save Orient. 6 June. From the local Guardian: Leyton Orient's issues seemed to have subsided slightly after Companies House discontinued their striking-off action against them. A cause was shown as to why the east London club should not be struck off the register, with no further action required. The club have still yet to file their accounts, which were due on March 31. They are now nearly three months late. 12 June. The High Court dismissed the winding up of the club. A lawyer representing Orient told Registrar Sally Barber that all debts had been paid at a Bankruptcy & Companies Court hearing in London and she dismissed all bids to have the club wound up. 13 June. Bradford, Wigan and Portsmouth were believed to be interested in Massey. The National League confirmed they would play 23 clubs if Orient are not in a position to kick off the campaign. The York press said: Uncertainty over Orient’s future remains with no pre-season friendlies yet organised, season-tickets not for sale and only 12 players on the books. The National League spokesman: They have complied with everything and the next step will be approving their pre-season budget by the end of June. Nothing can happen now to the division and, even if they dropped out of the league tomorrow, we would run one club short, because the constitution can’t be changed after the AGM. At the Supporters AGM committee member Karen Harrison observed that Becchetti may have shot himself in the foot as now if he is Googled he will come across as a spiteful man not to be trusted, who will get his revenge even on the innocent. to next page.