So here we go then, it’s time to strap ourselves in and get ready for Orient’s 2024/25 adventure. I think we can all agree that while we ran out of steam a little bit towards the end, thanks in no small part to the significant injuries that we picked up throughout the campaign, last season was on the whole a successful season of consolidation back in the third tier. So how do we think we are shaping up for the season ahead?

Departures and Recruitment

While it hasn’t been a hurly burly summer of transfer market activity for Orient, there have been a number of coming and goings. We have had the departure of some key, (and some not so key!), members of last season’s squad and at the time of writing six additions to the group.

Sol Brynn, Idris El Mizouni and Shaq Forde returned to their parent clubs (I am not counting Dan Adu-Adjei and Khayon Edwards as their impact in their respective half-season loans was minimal at best); Rob Hunt and Adam Thompson were released; and Ruel Sotiriou and Max Sanders departed for pastures new. Thankfully though the gaps created in the squad have largely been filled before we head into the start of the season proper.

Sol Brynn’s replacement is fellow Middlesborough keeper Zach Hemming who appeared 46 times for St Mirren last season helping them to qualify for European football. At 24 he offers more experience than Brynn had and has looked pretty solid in his pre-season appearances so far, as limited as they may have been.

Lewis Warrington signed from Everton on a 2-year contract and looks set to fill the central midfield slot vacated by the El Miz. While his form in pre-season has seemed a little bit underwhelming, the hope is that he proves to be another Ethan Galbraith/ Ollie O’Neill type signing who will have the quality to slot into the side, hopefully play a pivotal role, and if successful offer some sell-on value in the future.

Max Sanders was unlucky with injury in his time with us so it is difficult to judge what we will be missing. But Zech Obiero very much established himself in the squad at the end of last season and Charlie Pegrum has had another year of development, so it feels as if we have adequate replacements there.

Shaq Forde seemed to develop as the season progressed, especially when moved out to the right, if the aim of his loan with us was to develop him, then we certainly fulfilled our end of the deal. While Ruel Sotiriou always seemed to divide opinion amongst the Orient faithful, he saw the pound signs and headed off to Bristol Rovers, although I can’t have been alone in having a rye smile when I heard the news that he had picked up an injury even before the season started.

To replace those two forwards we have brought in Sonny Perkins and Diallang Jaiyesimi and, lest we forget, we still have Jordan Graham and Theo Archibald to return to full fitness, although for the latter that is probably towards the end of the calendar year at the earliest. Joe Pigott has been loaned to Wimbledon for the season, which seems like the best solution for both parties to a signing that simply didn’t work out.

For me it came as something of a surprise when Rob Hunt was released as he seemed a Richie Wellens’ favourite having played for the gaffer previously and being one of the first players he brought in. By means of a replacement, right back Sean Clare has been brought in from Wigan, while as we know Tom James signing a new deal means we have kept a player who can fill either fullback slot, and you have to feel that it is time for Jayden Sweeney to step up and make the left back berth his own.

In addition to TJ, Jack Simpson, Dan Happe, Theo Archbald and Darren Pratley all signed new deals, and you would be hard pushed to find too many O’s fans that are unhappy with those players staying. 

The return of Charlie Kelman on loan is an intriguing one. I think it is pretty much evident that Richie is a fan of his, and while work rate has never been an issue, it does feel that at 22 it is time for him to start adding more goals to his game. If he can do that across the season with us then I think we will all be very happy with that.

The one question mark that remains is what role is foreseen for George Moncur? If rumours are to be believed we have tried to offload him both in January and this summer, although his wages and desire to say close to London have hindered any potential move. If he stays it is difficult to see him forming part of a starting eleven, if he were to leave might that free up space on the wage bill to add the one or two players that Richie has spoken about still wanting?

More Challenging Division

While we were in Edinburgh for the Hearts match, quite a lot of the discussion amongst the travelling O’s centred on the fact that League One is likely to be a much tougher division this season than it was last time out.

Birmingham have already shelled out over £14 million, including pinching the division’s top goal scorer Alfie May from Charlton. Rotherham under our old friend Steve Evans have virtually changed their entire squad with 18 departures and 14 arrivals at the time of writing. While the other side relegated from the Championship, Huddersfield, have to be considered one of the stronger outfits within League 1.

If we also factor in the other contenders from last season: Bolton, Barnsley, Peterborough, Lincoln and Blackpool, and the fact that Wigan and Reading most likely won’t incur similar points deductions as they did in 23/24, and the upwardly mobile and financially well-resourced Wrexham and Stockport joining the third tier; that is a dozen teams with greater spending power than us before we even begin to think of some of the others that finished round and about mid-table.

Having said that though, we have a relatively settled squad, a number of players who we have yet to see the best of (thinking Jordan Graham and Dan Agyei here), and an innovative, dynamic and forward-thinking manager with a clear picture of how he wants his team to play, who has just signed a new three year deal and is moving to the local area. Might the Wellens factor be the secret, or not so secret, ingredient that will allow us to challenge those with bigger budgets?   

Tough Start

If we thought last season’s start to life in League 1 was challenging, this season’s start could hardly have been unkinder. In our first five matches we face four of the bigger teams in the division in: Bolton, Charlton, Birmingham and Peterborough. Thankfully only the Charlton game is away from home, and while it might be a good time to face some of those who have undergone a significant change in personnel, it is undoubtedly a very challenging opening month or so.

Need to score more goals

Probably the one thing that the vast majority of Orient fans will agree on is that we need to score more goals. That is not just a legacy of last season but also the League 2 title-winning campaign. Ruel Sotiriou was our leading scorer last term with just 11 league goals, the season before it was Paul Smyth with 10.

Obviously losing Dan Agyei to a cruel pre-season injury and then later on in the season was a big part of that, and if we keep him fit he has shown that he is more than capable of finding the back of the net consistently. We should also probably expect the likes of Kelman, Perkins and Jaiyesimi to chip in with their fair share, while O’Neill and Graham will have a dual focus on supplying the ammunition for the central forward(s) and offering a goal threat of their own.

Ticket pricing and the difficult balance for the club

A few weeks back the club announced their pricing structure for tickets for non-season card holders (who lest we forget had already faced a significant hike themselves and a very tight timescale to renew to benefit from the early bird discount!), not only have matchday tickets increased in price but matches will also now be categorised as one of three categories: AA, A or B.

While we all realise that the club needs to find ways to maximise its income from all sources, especially given the renovation and improvement of the East Stand and South Stand bar, it does strike me that it is a difficult balance for the club. The decision to cap the number of season cards to 4,500 ahead of last season makes complete sense if we are able to sell all the available tickets for any given match.

However, part for the attraction for more casual / tourist fans has been the relatively low admission price. Now that it is going to cost more, as well as a greater degree of uncertainty over kick-off times or even dates, will a trip to Brisbane Road still hold the same appeal for those looking for an affordable Saturday afternoon at the football? What if, (heaven forbid!!), we have a poor run of form, and the matches aren’t quite as appealing as they have been for those less obsessive about attending? Empty seats don’t purchase food, drink and merchandise!

Personally on the whole I think we as a club are managing that balance just about right. The match up in Edinburgh was a classic example of how our club consistently shows how much it appreciates our support. If they can continue to maintain that balance, while increasing income that is almost the perfect model for a football club.  

At this point in an eve-of-season piece it is usual for the writer to offer a prediction of how the season will go, but in many ways there are too many variables and unknowns to really do that ahead of 2024/25. I am hopeful of a top half finish but realistic to know how tough that is gong to be this time around. What I will say is that I can’t wait to be back at the Supporters Club tomorrow afternoon and back into the normal routine of following our beloved O’s, even if the missus and I will have to find a way of killing a couple of hours beforehand thanks to Sky TV!

Here’s hoping for another magical and special season!

Up the O’s!