📂 Categoría: EFL,Football,League One | 📅 Fecha: 1777749988
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Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has torn into his own squad after they avoided relegation to League Two on the final day.
Orient’s 2-2 draw with Burton Albion coupled with Exeter City’s 2-1 loss to Bradford City secured 20th place and League One safety by three points.
It was a drastic fall from Orient’s 2024/25 campaign, where they were beaten in the League One play-off final.
Despite achieving safety, an irate Wellens was in no mood to celebrate the end of what was an ’embarrassing’ season as he let rip into his ‘really, really weak’ players.
Wellens: Orient Players shouldn’t have celebrated during lap of honour
“We had relegation written all over us,” Wellens said.
“We’ve had to wait for somebody else to get a result for us. We concede from another set play because we lack leadership. We conceded numerous goals just before half-time. We concede numerous goals after 85 (minutes).
“We’ve probably lost 20 points after 85 minutes and then conceding goals at half-time.
“So I’ve told them, clap the fans because they’ve earned it. They’ve paid their money all season to come and watch us home and away, they deserve to be clapped.
“But then don’t be celebrating with your family. Get off the pitch.
“It’s been an embarrassing season. Too many players that have wasted 10 months of their career. I’ve had one year of my managerial career that I’ve wasted.
“Then they’ve wasted the supporters’ time. We’ve not given them enough days to turn up to. Not enough good days.”
Summer of change looms at Brisbane Road
Wellens unsurprisingly vowed there would be serious personnel changes in the summer, with no-one safe from the chopping block.
“There’s certain players that are out of contract that, at the moment, probably won’t be given one at the same money,” Wellens said.
“We’re going to be run more off data, and that data doesn’t stack up with the way that we want to play.
“We need the personnel now that can carry it out. The ones that have got contracts are going to be struggling to get a new contract. Then there will be players with contracts that we want to move on.”
Those who don’t have a future at Orient under Wellens also will be told, in no uncertain terms, they are no longer wanted at the club.
“I’m not going to kid them,” Wellens said.
“I’m an honest person. I’ve been questioning them in meetings and one-on-ones. I need more. We’re giving you opportunities to improve and give them all the information. We’ll put an analytical video in the player’s group and 50 per cent of them don’t watch it. How do you get that?”
Wellens added an anecdote about when, on the way to a game, they had Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the FA Cup on the TV screens in their team bus.
While the coaching staff tuned in, Wellens was left in shock at the lack of interest in the match from his players.
“I look back and not one of our players is watching the game,” Wellens said.
“They’re on their phones, whatever they’re doing.
“How can you not watch the elite and learn from the very best?”
On the Ball
Although Wellens was highly critical of his squad, he reserved special praise for Dom Ballard, who netted his 23rd league goal in the draw against Burton Albion.
Ballard’s 23 goals earned him League One’s golden boot, finishing four strikes ahead of Exeter’s Jayden Wareham.
Despite his remarkable form in front of goal this term, Wellens pointed out Ballard has plenty more attributes that make him a coach’s dream.
“Why do we love him? We love him because he runs, he fights, he tries his very hardest,” Wellens said.
“That is a blueprint, or a basic requirement, of a professional footballer.
“We have too many who dilly-dally and lose duels.
“He (Ballard) needs to improve, needs to learn. But whatever he gets going forward, he deserves.
“We want to keep him, absolutely. But then if someone comes in with a figure that is acceptable… then we’ll have to see.”
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has torn into his own squad after they avoided relegation to League Two on the final day.
Orient’s 2-2 draw with Burton Albion coupled with Exeter City’s 2-1 loss to Bradford City secured 20th place and League One safety by three points.
It was a drastic fall from Orient’s 2024/25 campaign, where they were beaten in the League One play-off final.
Despite achieving safety, an irate Wellens was in no mood to celebrate the end of what was an ’embarrassing’ season as he let rip into his ‘really, really weak’ players.
Wellens: Orient Players shouldn’t have celebrated during lap of honour
“We had relegation written all over us,” Wellens said.
“We’ve had to wait for somebody else to get a result for us. We concede from another set play because we lack leadership. We conceded numerous goals just before half-time. We concede numerous goals after 85 (minutes).
“We’ve probably lost 20 points after 85 minutes and then conceding goals at half-time.
“So I’ve told them, clap the fans because they’ve earned it. They’ve paid their money all season to come and watch us home and away, they deserve to be clapped.
“But then don’t be celebrating with your family. Get off the pitch.
“It’s been an embarrassing season. Too many players that have wasted 10 months of their career. I’ve had one year of my managerial career that I’ve wasted.
“Then they’ve wasted the supporters’ time. We’ve not given them enough days to turn up to. Not enough good days.”
Summer of change looms at Brisbane Road
Wellens unsurprisingly vowed there would be serious personnel changes in the summer, with no-one safe from the chopping block.
“There’s certain players that are out of contract that, at the moment, probably won’t be given one at the same money,” Wellens said.
“We’re going to be run more off data, and that data doesn’t stack up with the way that we want to play.
“We need the personnel now that can carry it out. The ones that have got contracts are going to be struggling to get a new contract. Then there will be players with contracts that we want to move on.”
Those who don’t have a future at Orient under Wellens also will be told, in no uncertain terms, they are no longer wanted at the club.
“I’m not going to kid them,” Wellens said.
“I’m an honest person. I’ve been questioning them in meetings and one-on-ones. I need more. We’re giving you opportunities to improve and give them all the information. We’ll put an analytical video in the player’s group and 50 per cent of them don’t watch it. How do you get that?”
Wellens added an anecdote about when, on the way to a game, they had Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the FA Cup on the TV screens in their team bus.
While the coaching staff tuned in, Wellens was left in shock at the lack of interest in the match from his players.
“I look back and not one of our players is watching the game,” Wellens said.
“They’re on their phones, whatever they’re doing.
“How can you not watch the elite and learn from the very best?”
On the Ball
Although Wellens was highly critical of his squad, he reserved special praise for Dom Ballard, who netted his 23rd league goal in the draw against Burton Albion.
Ballard’s 23 goals earned him League One’s golden boot, finishing four strikes ahead of Exeter’s Jayden Wareham.
Despite his remarkable form in front of goal this term, Wellens pointed out Ballard has plenty more attributes that make him a coach’s dream.
“Why do we love him? We love him because he runs, he fights, he tries his very hardest,” Wellens said.
“That is a blueprint, or a basic requirement, of a professional footballer.
“We have too many who dilly-dally and lose duels.
“He (Ballard) needs to improve, needs to learn. But whatever he gets going forward, he deserves.
“We want to keep him, absolutely. But then if someone comes in with a figure that is acceptable… then we’ll have to see.”
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📚 Información de la Fuente
| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | Alex Conrad |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-05-02 19:20:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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