Wellens signs new Orient contract to 2028
Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has signed a new three-year contract until the end of the 2027-28 campaign. Wellens guided Orient to the League One play-off final last season, but they were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic to miss out on a return to the ChampionshipThe 45- year-old previously led the east London club to promotion from League Two in 2023.Wellens said that getting so close to the Championship had left him "wanting more".He said in a statement: "We've seen progress season-by-season, and we want to keep improving and get this club to a level we think it can reach."I'm an ambitious person and an ambitious head coach, and I want to manage in the Championship, and I want to get there with Leyton Orient."
Wellens has transformed Orient during his tenure so far, having taken over in March 2022 with the club languishing just four points above the League Two relegation zone.They won the League Two title just over 12 months later to return to the third tier for the first time in eight years.Wellens also won the League Two title with Swindon in 2019 and the EFL Trophy with Salford City in 2020, and has also managed Oldham.Orient finished sixth in the table in 2024-25, beating Stockport County on penalties following a 3-3 draw over two legs in the play-offs to reach Wembley.Following the defeat by Charlton last month, Wellens said the club needed to "recruit right" with the majority of the squad for the play-off final out of contract this summer.Orient chairman Nigel Travis said Wellens' committing his future to the club was "another step in the right direction".Travis added: "Richie understands what this club is all about and has passion, the managerial skills and determination for the club to succeed."We're now in the transfer window, as I'm sure you'll all know, and we're working extremely hard behind the scenes to assemble a squad that we believe is capable of achieving our goals this season."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Archer set for red-ball return with Sussex
Fast bowler Jofra Archer is in Sussex's squad to play Durham in the County Championship on Sunday, putting him in line for a long-awaited return to red-ball 30, has not played a first-class match for more than four years after a series of injuries, most notably to his right elbow and has returned to the international fold in white-ball cricket but an appearance in the Division One fixture at Chester-le-Street would be a significant step, which England hope will lead to him playing Test cricket this selector Luke Wright said earlier this month that if Archer comes through the four days for Sussex he could be available for the second Test against India, which starts on 2 July at Edgbaston. Having bowled the decisive super over in the World Cup final earlier that summer, Archer made a thrilling start to his Test career during the 2019 Ashes and was viewed as a generational took 22 wickets at 20.27 across four Tests and bowled an electric spell to Steve Smith at Lord's, which resulted in the Australia batter retiring hurt after being hit in the played a further nine Tests but has not featured in whites for England since the third Test in India in struggled with an issue in his right elbow on that tour and stress fractures in the joint have required multiple surgeries. He also suffered a stress fracture to his back in has not played any red-ball cricket since a County Championship match for Sussex against Kent in May missed the recent T20 and 50-over matches against West Indies with a minor thumb injury but he has otherwise come through 12 months of white-ball cricket unscathed, having returned for last year's T20 World Cup and featured at the Champions Trophy earlier this have painstakingly managed his schedule over the past 12 months in the hope Archer, who can still reach speeds above 90mph, could yet play a significant role against India and then Australia in the Ashes this this week, Test captain Ben Stokes revealed Archer texted him about the possibility of playing in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge but instead, while Stokes' side play India in the first Test at Headingley, an eye will be kept on Archer when he does return in the north east.
Reuters
15 minutes ago
- Reuters
India all out for 471 after being seemingly on course for insurmountable total
LEEDS, England, June 21 (Reuters) - Fast bowler Josh Tongue helped England to breeze through the India lower order to skittle out the tourists for 471 in their first innings on day two of the first test at Headingley, after they had been seemingly cruising on 430-3 earlier on Saturday. From a strong overnight position of 359-3, Rishabh Pant helped India to add runs in the morning session in thrilling style, before quick wickets -- with India losing four for 24 runs before lunch -- dragged England back into the match. Wickets continued to tumble in the afternoon session as India failed to capitalised on their strong start. Having been seemingly in a hopeless situation, England now come to the crease with renewed hope.
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Live Draper loses first set to Lehecka in Queen's semi-final
*denotes server Latest updates Uche Amako (live updates) 21 June 2025 2:05pm 2:05PM Draper 4-6, 2-2 Lehecka* Perfect start by Draper as he finds the line with a brilliant running cross court forehand winner. Even Lehecka applauds. Lehecka then fires a forehand long, 0-30. Then a double fault gives Draper three break points. He's got to take them. Lehecka saves the first with a forehand winner back behind Draper. Then the second when a desperate forehand down the line by Draper goes long. One break point remaining... Lehecka serve and volleys, Draper has a look at a forehand down the line but doesn't hit it cleanly and Lehecka puts away the volley. Deuce. Lehecka drops shot, Draper hustles up to the ball and flicks a backhand down the line for a winner. Fourth break point. Lehecka ace, back to deuce. Brilliant serving. And he survives the scare with a volley winner to the immense frustration of Draper. 1:57PM Draper* 4-6, 2-1 Lehecka Draper can take comfort in the fact that his serve is firing and Lehecka isn't getting a look in. He holds to love in about 90 seconds. 1:56PM Draper 4-6, 1-1 Lehecka* A microcosm of the match. Draper not doing much wrong but Lehecka is doing everything right, combining power and finesse to keep the Briton at bay. 1:51PM Second set: Draper* 4-6, 1-0 Lehecka Little pep talk from Draper to himself. He will know he needs to raise his level, do something different to unsettle Lehecka. Encouraging signs from Draper that he wants to get to the net in this game. A robust hold to 15 to start the set. 1:47PM Draper 4-6 Lehecka* Time for Draper to make his move. Not much he can do though when Lehecka fires down back-to-back aces to start the game. A let call means he just misses out on three aces in a row and the ensuing rally is won by Draper, 30-15. Frustration for Draper as he nets a backhand return off Lehecka's second serve. Two set points. Deep backhand into the corner by Lehecka is too hot for Draper and his feet goes wide. First set to Lehecka and it is fully deserved. Work to do for Draper... 1:42PM Draper* 4-5 Lehecka Draper gets a service hold to love and pressures Lehecka to serve out the set. 1:41PM Draper 3-5 Lehecka* An opening for Draper as Lehecka double faults, 15-30. He hits back straight away with a wide ace. Then another ace, 139mph, down the T. Huge serving. Deep forehand into the corner by Lehecka after a short return by Draper and the Briton can't get his scrambling forehand into play. Another game to the Czech. 1:35PM Draper* 3-4 Lehecka Lehecka showing his touch and feel again with an exquisite sliced backhand which spins away from Draper for a winner, 0-15. When Draper gets his first serve in play, he is winning the point and that takes him to 40-15. Third double fault of the match for Draper is followed by an unreturned first serve and Draper holds. Savage Slice ⚔️ @jirilehecka #HSBCChampionships — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 21, 2025 1:32PM Draper 2-4 Lehecka* Draper is opting to block his returns into play but the ball sits up nicely for Lehecka to blast a winner into the corner, 30-0. Back-to-back aces from Lehecka gives him the game. Seriously impressive start and Draper doesn't have the answers at the moment.
