Over 30,000 fans turned out in red and white to see the O’s just miss out on making it to the Championships at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, reports Marco Marcelline
Leyton Orient fans were left bitterly disappointed by their club’s inability to make the final leap into the Championship following a dramatic League One playoff defeat at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (25th May). Despite a promising end to the season, it was heartbreak for fans who witnessed Orient lose 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.
It had been a decade since the Brisbane Road club last reached the League One playoffs and over 30,000 fans turned out in red and white to support their team in what was the biggest crowd Leyton Orient have ever played in front of.
Speaking to BBC Radio London after the match, Leyton Orient’s manager Richie Wellens reflected on a gruelling campaign: “I’m tired, this week has taken a lot out of us. It’s been a long season. I need a few weeks off. We’ll dust ourselves down and try to recruit. The plan was always to be a top, top League One club. We are still not there yet, but this is a good step.”
Wellens, who has managed the club since 2022, additionally praised his players, saying: “It’s been an unbelievable group of players – both on the pitch and character-wise they are a pleasure to work with every day. We just couldn’t go to the last step and I am gutted for them.”
Wellens also admitted promotion to the Championship might have come too soon.
“I am more gutted than anybody. It’s the first time I have ever lost a final, ever,” he said.
“If you’d said to us at the start of the season you’re going to lose in the play-off final we’d have taken it. But now it’s important we grow and develop the club. We’re still not there.If we’d been promoted today we’d still fall short in a lot of areas which are required for a Championship club. We have to try and grow from it.”
He continued: “I came here and we were 20th in League Two. Charlton are ready to go up. Are we ready? As a club we probably need more time.”
Despite the defeat, Leyton Orient has remained optimistic. In a statement released on 27th May, the club’s board underlined its long-term vision for Brisbane Road: “We have made it clear that our aim is to become a football club that can compete sustainably at Championship level and we believe that we are well placed to achieve that in the coming years. We will not put a timescale on when we hope to accomplish this but we can guarantee you that all of our energies are focused on achieving it.”
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