New owners appoint Ling and pledge to revive Orient
LEYTON ORIENT today named Martin Ling as director of football after Nigel Travis completed his takeover from Francesco Becchetti.
Travis heads a consortium that finalised the purchase of Orient yesterday and this morning brought Ling back to the club.
The 50-year-old, who managed Orient between 2003 and 2009, has been out of football since stepping down as Swindon Town boss in 2015 for health reasons.
Ling will lead the process of appointing a new manager and building a squad for the National League next season.
Travis said: “His deep ties to the club will help him build on Leyton Orient’s heritage of developing strong young talent through its academy. Longer term, along with the new management team, Martin is committed to returning Leyton Orient to its winning days.”
The takeover ends three years of chaos under owner Becchetti and only last week the club survived a winding-up petition at the High Court. The price Eagle Investments 2017 Limited paid for the purchase has not been disclosed but Orient are now debt-free and Travis has vowed to get them back into the Football League following their relegation last month.
Travis, the chief executive of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, who was born in Woodford but is now based in America, said today: “I have been a fan for 58 years and have seen lots of ups and downs at Leyton Orient and I am hoping this is a chance to turn a corner. A chance to look to the future with optimism. The club is debt-free and is well financed for the future.
“We have got a number of investors in America and the UK who have put money in. We have got a fabulous consortium and intend to run the club in a highly professional manner.
“We are excited for the future but this is just one step on the journey. We have got a lot of building to do. We have got our club back.”
The Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust today welcomed the takeover. A statement said: “The past three years have been without question the worst extended period in the club’s history.”