FABIO OUT TO LIVE THE ORIENT WAY
LEYTON Orient’s season has been one disappointment after another, but manager Fabio Liverani insists he will still be at the club come August when the new campaign rolls around.
After reaching the play-off final 12 months ago, only losing on penalties to Rotherham, big things were expected from the O’s this term.
Instead, they have been entrenched in a relegation battle but Liverani, who has two years remaining on his contract, claims that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the challenge.
“This Leyton Orient project is one I believe in,” said Liverani. “The possibility I could plan a season from the start the way I want, with the players I want and the way I want to work, is great.
“MK Dons is an example of planning because the manager has been the same for many seasons.
“They didn’t win straight away and that is something I would like to do with my team. I want to have the possibility to start from the beginning and build things the way I want.”
Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti bought Orient from previous owner Barry Hearn last summer.
With the club fresh of a Championship promotion challenge, his first season in charge can only be viewed as a disappointment but Liverani doesn’t believe his countryman will walk away from the club.
“I believe Leyton Orient is a long-term project for the president Francesco Becchetti and it has only just started,” he added.
“It is not the case that just because we have one bad season the project disappears. But he has put a lot of money into the club and should be more disappointed than anyone else.
“He is funding the club and receiving much less joy and much more disappointment than he probably was expecting this season.”