By Tim Parsons-
Leyton Orient fans have now raised more than £150,000 for a ‘regeneration fund’to football club, in a bid to salvage the damage done to Leyton Orient club club which is in over £10million of debt.
Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust (LOFT) has a £250,000 target in preparation for the 12th June court date that could eventually see the club liquidated.
The fundraising is expected to secure ”a better future for the club’ after Becchetti leaves”, LOFT is organising a ‘Lingy’s Legends vs Supporters’ charity match on 20th May. Another fans group known as Orient Outlook, has also been auctioning signed shirts donated by former players to help boost the fund.
The club, which was bought in 2014 by Italian businessman, Francesco Becchetti , has been relegated twice amid 11 different managers who have been involved with club throughout its troubled past. The Leyton o’rient fans trust consist of a a number of avid fans and supporters, who are trying to push heaven and earth to ensure that their favourite club is not liquidated.
Leyton o’rient football club are unheralded, but have many believers who still see the club as having enough potential under ideal circumstances, to advance well in the football league.
A LOFT spokesman told the eye of media.com: “ The Fans Trust has shown dedication to the club the love by donating generously. Other donations coming in have helped us surge past £150,000 and keep going – with the proceeds of Orient Outlook’s auctions and whatever we raise on at the Lingy’s Legends vs Supporters match to come.
“While the best solution to Leyton Orient’s situation is for Becchetti to sell the club as a going concern to a new owner, LOFT’s remit as a supporters’ trust means that we have to plan for the worst.”
The worst may be yet to come after representatives of the club have since failed to provide any further information on the club’s finances , as requested by the Judge in the last hearing that took place in March.
PROTESTS
Leyton O’rients recent football matches have been marked with protests by fans, a pitch invasion at the tail end of the last home game of the season against Colchester United being the worst protests over the club’s ailing issues. Fans were ejected from the stadium on the last occasion , but the match resumed an hour later before a virtually empty stadium.
A joint protest followed the final game of the season at Blackpool last Saturday, the Sea siders equally expressing their grievance with their club ownership.Representatives of the club have promised to invest £1million to settle outstanding debts and pay staff whose wages were delayed for weeks. If the fans club manages to reach their target of 250,000 pounds by the next court date, it may influence the judgment of the court in the club’s favour. Supporters have clearly shown determination and loyalty to save this dying club, and it may just pay off.