Doing the 92: Leyton Orient’s Remarkable Revival
Doing the 92 is Daniel Storey’s odyssey to every English football league club in a single season. The best way to follow his journey is by subscribing here.
At the top of a whiteboard in Martin Ling’s office within Leyton Orient’s stadium, a date is inscribed in permanent marker to ensure it remains visible: 22 July, 2017. This date marks Ling’s return to the club—having transitioned through various roles as player, coach, manager, and finally, director of football. For many supporters, this date symbolizes the beginning of a resurgence for the club.
By 2025, Leyton Orient may emerge as one of the most promising clubs in the EFL. Over the past six completed seasons, they have clinched two league titles, consistently improved their league positions in six out of seven years, and experienced an impressive 80 percent increase in home attendance. The aspiration has always been to reach the second tier for the first time since 1982, but this goal has been expedited by their steady and unexpected progress. Overperformance has become their new standard.
Before the 2017-18 season, Leyton Orient was in chaos. The turmoil began in 2013, when the team won their first eight league matches, establishing a five-point lead at the top of League One, only to suffer a dismal spell of one win in eight and ultimately succumb to the play-offs. They found themselves 2-0 up against Rotherham United in the final at Wembley, only to lose in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Following that season, Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti took control from Barry Hearn and presided over a reign marked by instability and poor management. In 2014-15, the club cycled through four managers, and five more followed in 2016-17. Players faced late payments, there were numerous winding-up hearings, and a general atmosphere of absurdity prevailed, ultimately leading to a mutiny among the supporters.
Orient’s final moments as a league club—marking an end to a 112-year tenure—were played out in eerie silence, as the last league match was abandoned due to a protest. By March 2018, just eight months after Ling’s return, the team sat 17th in the National League and faced relegation struggles alongside Halifax Town and Maidstone United. The club had truly hit rock bottom.
“I had been away for six or seven years and returned to find the remnants of the club I once knew,” Ling recalls. “It was fighting, but it was losing. I had heard stories, and my son, who was a scholar at the club, shared some of the issues with me.”
Leyton Orient 3-2 Lincoln City (Saturday 15 February)
- Game no.: 68/92
- Miles: 262
- Cumulative miles: 12,089
- Total goals seen: 203
- The one thing I’ll remember in May: Witnessing last-minute winners is always unforgettable, especially at Orient, where you can see fans celebrating from their apartment balconies.
“When the consortium expressed interest in my return, I spoke to Lindsey, my former secretary during my managerial stint. She was on the verge of quitting. Wages were unpaid, the squad lacked senior players, there was no training ground, and only a skeleton staff remained. If you could visualize someone being placed in a football bomb site, that was Orient at the time.”
This consortium was spearheaded by Nigel Travis, a lifelong Orient supporter and then-CEO of Dunkin’ Donuts, who partnered with Kent Teague, a senior Microsoft director and Texan multimillionaire eager to invest in an English football club. Even Ling acknowledges the fortunate position Travis and Teague found themselves in, given the relative success and minimal heartache they have experienced in the past seven years.
Bringing Ling back was a stroke of genius, but Orient took another bold step by appointing Richie Wellens as manager in March 2022. Wellens was instrumental in leading the team to a League Two title, establishing a formidable defense with 24 clean sheets during the 2022-23 season, and has significantly outperformed expectations in League One.
Ling first met Wellens prior to his tenure at Doncaster Rovers and quickly recognized him as an excellent fit for Orient. When Kenny Jackett vacated the managerial position, Wellens was available, and after reconnecting, Ling recommended him as a candidate. Wellens impressed the owners during the interview process.
What stands out is Ling’s frequent mention of Justin Edinburgh when discussing the current manager. Edinburgh was pivotal in guiding Orient back into the Football League and tragically passed away just a month later from a cardiac arrest. When Orient secured promotion to League One under Wellens during a match at Gillingham, Edinburgh’s son, Charlie, was present, and the away supporters chanted his father’s name.
Justin will always remain a cornerstone of this club. Charlie Edinburgh appreciates the love and support from fans who continue to honor his father’s legacy. Travis and Teague have eloquently expressed their admiration for Wellens in continuing Edinburgh’s work.
“I didn’t anticipate it would go as smoothly as it has, but I always believed there was a capable Leyton Orient manager within him,” Ling says. “I see Richie as a northern version of Justin Edinburgh, and that is a compliment to both. Players are willing to go the extra mile for him, just as they were for Justin. If you are tactically astute, a decent person, and can inspire, you stand a good chance of success.”
The O’s may require a new stadium to accommodate their growing fanbase. Leyton has transformed significantly since Ling’s playing days. “I can hardly believe there are million-pound houses here now!” he exclaims. The high street buzzes with trendy restaurants and new developments. Approximately 5,000 new homes are either completed or underway in the area. Even if just one resident from each home attends matches and one in five chooses to support the local team, that could potentially add 1,000 fans to the current near-capacity crowds.
This growth presents both opportunities and challenges. If Ling’s “Operation Championship” proves feasible, they will require every bit of revenue and matchday support they can muster. A new stadium or significant refurbishment of the existing one may be on the horizon. Throughout Ling’s time with the club, they have not possessed a training ground, which is a logical next step for future development.
All of this necessitates funding. Ling and I have extensive discussions about the potential investment opportunities available. The importance of securing the right ownership cannot be overstated; wise choices can enable new custodians to build upon the groundwork laid by previous leaders.
In October, Travis announced his active search for investment, and by December, he revealed significant interest had been generated. The week following my visit, Leyton Orient announced an exclusivity agreement with a prospective investor. A new era may be just around the corner. After years of rebuilding and recovery, the club aims to ascend to even greater heights. Leyton has transformed beyond recognition; Leyton Orient aspires to do the same.
However, there’s a deeper layer to this story, which is why I chose Ling as my guide. This narrative is compelling not only due to Leyton Orient’s rise from the ashes but also because of Ling’s personal journey at its core.
In early 2013, Ling took a leave of absence from his managerial role at Torquay United due to health concerns, with little information disclosed at the time (he would eventually depart the club permanently in April). In 2015, he secured his dream job as manager of Swindon Town, the club that had once provided him the thrill of Premier League football. However, he left after just nine games, again citing health issues.
In truth, Ling was grappling with severe depression that brought him close to the brink of despair, profoundly altering his life. Alcohol became a misguided coping mechanism, exacerbating his struggles. He ultimately spent seven weeks at The Priory, reflecting that nothing is worse than having one’s children witness such a state.
“It was a battle,” Ling admits. “You can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel; all you perceive is darkness. I still take medication, which I am proud of. When I first started taking them, I didn’t believe they could help me. Now, I understand that these medications help me, whereas alcohol only worsened my situation.”
When I ask Ling if he feels well now, I already know the answer; he is here because he is well. He had promised his wife, Caroline, that he would only return to football if it felt right. One of the most fulfilling moments was when he discussed the offer from Orient with her and heard her say, “I think you will be fine,” knowing she was right.
“My last significant mental health struggle was at Swindon, nearly eight years ago,” he reflects. “I have had no signs of it since. I can go to bed tonight and wake up with the world on my shoulders. But I know how to lift that weight now, and it starts with respecting myself.”
“My family is my greatest support system. They witnessed their husband and father in that state, and I can’t convey what that was like. Seeing that they are happy because I’m happy is the most rewarding feeling in the world.”
To me, this aspect of Leyton Orient’s resurgence with Ling at the helm is the most heartening. He humbly downplays any added significance, but there’s an undeniable connection here. Leyton Orient is thriving once more thanks to Ling’s contributions, and Ling is flourishing because this club—the job, the success, the community—has rejuvenated him. Long may this symbiotic relationship continue.
“Someone mentioned that to me recently,” Ling smiles. “That I’ve been good for the club, and the club’s been good for me. It’s absolutely true. During my lowest moments, this was the place I always dreamed of returning to.”
Daniel Storey has set himself the goal of visiting all 92 grounds across the Premier League and EFL this season. You can track his progress via our interactive map and find every article (so far) here.
