Football Season Guide

There is a sense of quiet optimism at Leyton Orient following the appointment of Richie Wellens back in March. He guided the O’s to safety after the season has spectacularly unraveled under experienced manager Kenny Jackett. The East Londoners were pushing promotion before a mid-season Covid-19 related hiatus and they went on a losing run that saw Jackett sacked with the threat of relegation looming large. Wellens led Swindon Town to the League Two title in 2020 but has since lasted barely six months at both Salford City and Doncaster Rovers before being sacked. He will be hoping to avoid a hat-trick and reestablish his managerial credentials. There has been just the one notable departure from Brisbane Road this summer with academy graduate Hector Kyrpianou joining Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee. He has made just a couple of additions to the squad with winger Theo Archibald’s loan move from Lincoln City made permanent and the capture of midfielder George Moncur from Championship side Hull City, which appears to be something of a coup. He already has the basis of a squad capable of challenging at the top of the table this season. Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux is one of the best in the division; defender Adam Thompson and midfielder Craig Clay are both fit again and strikers Aaron Drinan and Harry Smith are a real threat in attack. If he can keep winger Paul Smyth fit, he might just have the player with the X factor to make the difference.