ORIENT’S SINKING SHIP IS BEYOND REPAIR

LEYTON ORIENT are a mystery to me. How can the Football League allow a well-run club to suddenly become an absolute joke?

Orient is a good club. I played there many times. It’s a club that has always held its own in London – a city with lots of Premier League and Championship clubs.

It was only in 2014 they were in the League One play-off final battling for promotion to the second tier of English football.

The chairman Francesco Beccheti has a lot to answer for. He’s killed the club and put them in absolute turmoil. He can’t blame anyone but himself. Last Monday the club were up in court facing a winding-up order until the latest creditors were satisfied at the last minute.

I know Danny Webb, who was one of the managers there last season. When you’re being told which players to pick and having your training schedule questioned, your hands are tied. They’ve had 11 managers under the chairman. How is that showing business acumen?

All the time he’s there it’s going to be a sinking ship. It’s no fault of the fans or the players. I really feel for them.

It’s a really sad situation, but at the moment they have to start as relegation favourites.

MICHAEL CHEEK could go into any team in the National League.

It’s no secret I really rate him as a player and he was in my team of the year. He’s been brilliant for Braintree Town over the last two seasons – he pretty much scored half their goals last year – I wouldn’t have been surprised if a League club had taken a punt on him this summer.

Dagenham & Redbridge have got him, however, and he comes with guaranteed goals. It’s a good signing by boss John Still.

I’d be surprised if Oli Hawkins is still at Daggers next season but, in Cheek, he’s got a tried-and-tested striker. It’s an absolute nobrainer piece of business.