Why Leyton Orient have handed Richie Wellens a new contract - David Gandler has confirmed the reasons | OneFootball

Richie Wellens has put pen to paper on a Leyton Orient contract extension this summer

Leyton Orient have confirmed a contract extension with Richie Wellens following the team’s run to the League One play-off final.

The O’s missed out on promotion to the Championship, losing the final to London rivals Charlton Athletic.

However, the 45-year-old coach has still earned a lot of praise for guiding the team to a sixth place finish in League One.

Leyton Orient haven’t competed in the second tier of English football since 1982, with this season earning them their best league finish since 2014.

Wellens joined the club in March 2022, and has overseen their promotion from League Two, as well as an 11th place finish in the third tier prior to coming sixth this year.

Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens decision

Leyton Orient majority shareholder David Gandler has outlined why the club have agreed terms on a new deal with Wellens, claiming the coach matches their long-term ambitions.

He praised the manager’s tactical acumen and ability to motivate, as well as the keen interest he shows in improving the O’s both on and off the pitch.

"Richie is not just the Head Coach of the football club,” wrote Gandler, via the club’s official website.

“He is obviously a wonderful tactician and motivator, but he takes an active interest in every side of the football club, whether that be on or off the pitch.

“We've had some great conversations since I joined the club, and he wants nothing but the best for Leyton Orient.

“We know what Richie wants, and we mirror his ambition of having yet another season of progress."

Leyton Orient missed out on promotion to the Championship with a 1-0 loss to Charlton at Wembley Stadium, with Macaulay Gillesphey’s first-half strike the difference between the two sides.

The club will now be hoping to use the transfer market in order to improve the squad and go one step further in their bid for promotion in 2026.

Richie Wellens’ impact at Leyton Orient

Wellens took over at Brisbane Road back in March 2022, with the team competing in League Two.

He led the club to promotion in his first full season in charge, with the side also clinching the fourth division title in the process, coming six points clear of second place Stevenage.

It ended a four-year stint at that level, having been promoted from the National League in 2019.

Orient hadn’t competed in League One since 2015, but finished 11th in their first campaign back in the division under Wellens.

The London outfit finished 11 points adrift of the play-offs in what was a very successful first year back at this level.

Orient managed to bridge that 11-point gap within just 12 months, earning 78 points in total on their way to a top six finish.

They finished just three points clear of Reading to clinch the final play-off spot, before beating Stockport County in the semi-finals.

While Leyton Orient missed out on promotion, their sights will now firmly be set on fighting for promotion again next season, especially now that Wellens has put pen to paper on this contract extension.