Wellens: Leyton Orient fans have team to connect and identify with

Having clinched the title with a 2-0 win against Crewe a week earlier, O’s were presented with the silverware in front of another big crowd in E10 after their 3-0 defeat against promotion hopefuls stockport.

And although disappointed to have lost, Wellens was proud of all that his side had produced over the course of the campaign to get back into League One.

“We’ve got the club back to a level we feel it should be and a level it can definitely compete in in terms of size and fan base,” he told the club website.

“These supporters are going out every week, earning their money, we’ve recovered from Covid, the cost of living, prices, everything is expensive so we’ve given them a team on the pitch, not only ability wise that can entertain them, but they can connect with and identify with.

“Leyton is a working-class area and these lads go on the pitch every single week and give 110 per cent.

“We were just that little bit off it today, which is understandable, but that’s what I mean about giving the club back to the supporters.

“They’ve been on a journey with this team for 10 months this season and they can relate with the players and the players have given them a hell of a lot to shout about.”

O’s were accompanied onto the pitch before kick-off by fireworks and a choir and Wellens admitted the day would forever be etched in his memory.

“It’s 53 years since we’ve won a league in terms of the EFL,” he added.

“We wanted to make it special and I think it was, the fireworks, Matt Porter did a fantastic job. It was all set up pretty well, everything went smooth, Luke [Lambourne] did a fantastic job, as did all the media team.

“We’ve allowed them back stage, a lot of insight into what the players do, and we will do that until the end of the season, but what a day.

“This will be forever in my memory because it’s a special group.

“I think Moncs was overwhelmed with the entrance, the choir Luke got was fantastic, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, so a great day.”

Stockport caught the hosts cold, though, with early goals from Akil Wright and Callum Camps inside 10 minutes.

George Moncur and Tom James tested Ben Hinchcliffe in the second half as O’s sought a response, but the visitors sealed the points on 81 minutes as Connor Evans headed home.

“I thought we started all right and the atmosphere in the ground was electric,” said Wellens.

“But you have to give them credit, they were right at it. Our preparation was just a five-a-side to get them going, no specific instructions, no tactical work. We just wanted the players to enjoy the occasion.

“Credit to Stockport, they were really at it, pressed us really well and we were just very lethargic, a little bit cumbersome.

“There’s reasons why the performance was what it was, but it doesn’t take anything away from the celebrations at the end.”