Simon Jordan hits out at Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens after astonishing post-match rant | OneFootball

Simon Jordan has taken aim at Richie Wellens for his comments after Leyton Orient obtained League One survival

Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens's post-match comments created one of League One's biggest talking points following the final weekend of the season.

Orient successfully retained their third-tier status by earning a 2-2 draw with Burton Albion on Saturday.

Wellens' men finished three points clear of the drop zone despite ending the campaign with a woeful eight-game winless run, which included a defeat against relegated Rotherham United.

Orient's survival came at the expense of Exeter City, who finished 21st after being beaten 2-1 by Bradford City, who are now battling for promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs.

Simon Jordan criticises Richie Wellens for controversial Leyton Orient assessment

Wellens' side reached the League One play-off final just last season, and suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic, who have gone on to survive in the Championship.

As a result of last term's relative success, Orient began the campaign with aspirations of battling for a top-six spot once again, even though they witnessed high-profile player departures last summer, such as that of Ethan Galbraith, who has performed well in the second tier with Swansea City.

Meanwhile, following his side's draw with Burton, Wellens criticised his players for celebrating the feat of obtaining League One survival.

The 46-year-old told BBC Radio London: "I've come out a couple of times and had a go at our supporters in the past. I'm going to apologise for that now. I'm going to tell you the reason why I've done it.

"We've got a weak group. Really, really weak, OK? And when our supporters give them criticism, I try and take the criticism off them. So I come out and say the atmosphere wasn't great and then supporters come at me.

"I don't feel that my protection of them, or going on the verge of ruining a relationship with a group of supporters I've got an unbelievable relationship with, is worth it.

"Week in, week out, especially the past six or seven weeks, they get served up with rubbish. There are too many players that have wasted 10 months of their career and wasted my time. I've had one year of my management that has been wasted by the players.

"And then they have wasted the supporters' time. They have not given them enough days to turn up to. There's not enough people at this football club with the mentality to win.

"Clap the fans because they've earned it. They've paid their money all season to come and watch us home and away, and they deserve to be clapped.

"But then don't be celebrating with your family. Get off the pitch, it's been an embarrassing season."

Responding to those comments live on talkSPORT on Tuesday, Simon Jordan said: "Doesn’t the team reflect leadership? Aren’t the team his team? Aren’t the characters, the lack of resilience, the manner in which they play all directly related to his management?

"This is his environment, these are his players, this is his culture, this is his monster that he created. For whatever reason, people will always think that’s refreshing honesty. But you can’t airbrush yourself out of it."

Orient haven't won since beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 on 21 March, which is indicative of the struggles they have endured in League One this term.

The Brisbane Road club won just 14 games in 46 league attempts and will be desperate to perform significantly better next term to avoid another relegation battle.

Leyton Orient set for major changes this summer

Wellens' comments prove that he is very unhappy at Orient right now, but he has been in their dugout since 2022 and has largely done a very good job.

The former Doncaster Rovers and Salford City boss led the East London outfit to the League Two title in 2023 and has subsequently established them as a League One outfit.

However, Wellens' men have slipped to a worryingly low position this term, and are lucky that they aren't playing their trade in the fourth tier next season.

Meanwhile, as reported by Darren Witcoop on X, Wrexham have eyed a move for Orient striker Dom Ballard, who has scored 23 goals in League One this season.

Ballard's impressive attacking exploits in the third tier suggest that he is ready to make the step-up to the Championship, which could benefit the Red Dragons.

Orient's rebuild will witness more than just the 21-year-old's exit, though, with Wellens desperate to add more quality to his squad to ensure they are not in another relegation battle next season.

Replacing Ballard will be a difficult task, but the East London side's consistently poor displays show that they must invest in all areas, not just their attack.