Doyle Hooper

What a day at Brisbane Road. For the second time in five seasons our little club in East London are league champions. The owners, Martin Ling, @RichieWe11ens and that team of players have given us memories to last a lifetime and I can’t thank them enough @leytonorientfc #lofc

@OrientOutlook We looked bang up for it 2nd half after the change in personnel & system. Stretched Dons left hand side as they did to us 1st half. A word for TJ who was solid again and Azeem who was everywhere. Ballard is special. Here’s hoping we can hang on to him and go up next season.

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS What a night in SW London for #lofc as we bring all 3 points back to E10! Superb performances all over the pitch but special mention to hattrick hero Dom Ballard who is now on 21 goals for the season. Thoughts?

@GabSutton @EFL Game of two halves for Orient. Struggled with a physical Dons side first half and played them off the park second half after change in personnel and system. Ballard is some player. If he’d been playing in our team last season he’d be on 30+. I think we’ll be up there next season.

If you’ve seen an @EFL game tonight, I’d love to hear your thoughts 💭

@FPLGallagher @OrientOutlook Exactly what I thought. Completely at odds with the relationship Travis built with Ling & Wellens, where communication was key. If Richie didn’t know, it’s come from above. Travis has run bigger companies than Orient and knows how to protect majority shareholders. Got this wrong.

As much as Nigel denied it in the interview I can’t help but feel it’s a decision that’s ultimately come from David who blindly wanted some sort of change without giving Richie the sack. Anyone who understands the history of the club knows that was a poor decision @OrientOutlook

Listening to @DulcetDave’s interview with Richie who has clearly been rocked by the departure of Martin Ling and the logic behind that move at this stage of the season baffles me even more now than when I first heard the news @OrientOutlook @leytonorientfc

You can feel Richie’s sadness with Ling’s sacking. Only reinforces my sense that this came from above and Nigel is fronting it as Chairmen. NT has previously said how open he is discussing everything (stadium, academy, etc) with RW so something is off. Sad times at the Orient.

'I love the man. He's been the glue for a long time and probably the best mentor I've ever had in my managerial career' @leytonorientfc boss Richie Wellens discusses the impact former Director of Football Martin Ling had, following the news of his departure ⬇️ bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

@henrywinter Feels like a decision from above Travis, who flatly denies it’s come from Gandler. Hard to believe with the shift in communication this season and the fact Ling and Travis had built our revival together. Ling has taken the rap for results, which isn’t his remit. Deserved better.

Martin Ling is a Leyton Orient legend. Player, coach, caretaker, manager, director of football, involved in three promotions. Ling was brought back by the new owners in 2017 and helped rebuild the club after the nightmare of Becchetti’s ownership. Helped guide the club through the devastating loss of the hugely popular manager Justin Edinburgh in 2019. Helped guide the club through the pandemic. Given his own past issues with depression, Ling could offer good counsel to others, when needed. His door was always open for players, staff to come in and talk. Ling has done so much for Leyton Orient on and off the field. He’s now left the club. Strange timing? Surely wait until end of the season? Chairman Nigel Travis explained club thinking to fans, telling Orient TV that “every organisation evolves” but they were “not replacing Martin directly”. Travis has fulsome praise and respect for a “great player, great manager and terrific director of football." But given how much Ling has done for the club, he deserved a proper send-off. As Travis himself says, "Nobody has contributed more to Leyton Orient than Martin Ling". #LOFC

@PaulRavens39 Travis says in the interview they’re not going to replace him. Wellens has always said how close he is to Ling. Despite Travis saying this was his call, it reeks of new owner throwing this weight around. No well run club does this mid season the night before a game.

Speculative theory: they’ve had conversations with Wellens about possible relegation and whether he’d stay if the club goes down. He’s said yes, but only if Ling goes. I just can’t really see any other reason for it #lofc

Announcing this at 9pm the night before a match is WILD. Whether you’re pleased he’s gone or not, this is bizarre timing given the state of things this season #lofc

@OrientOutlook An Orient legend. Leaving at this stage in the season, the night before an important game is far from ideal. Travis insists it was his call but having watched the video there’s a clear change in tone and approach since Gandler came in. Ominous times on and off the pitch.

Wishing Martin Ling all the best as he leaves his role as Director Of Football at Leyton Orient…👏 Thank you for everything Martin.❤️ #LOFC

An Orient legend. A huge part of our rebuild and the success that followed. A real shame to see him go mid season. Deserved better.

@leytonorientear @Samuellofc97 First Beckles, then McCormack and now Ling departing mid season. If they wanted to refresh at the end of the season fine, but the night before a game seems unprofessional and really doesn’t sit right. Not sure how it helps the team on the pitch right now.

@Samuellofc97 Not quite nowhere

Well this came out of nowhere... All the best Lingy! And thank you for everything.

@nozt79 @OrientOutlook Spot on. If you don’t like what you see on the pitch I understand some people are gonna boo. Sticking around to swear and scream abuse is poor. Doesn’t help anyone. Same fella who shouts, “Still got it Richie” every time Wellens controls the ball. Desperate to be noticed.

@OrientOutlook You may not like Wellens and that's fine but the 3 fans who sit near me in the West Stand should be ashamed of themselves, screaming and swearing at the players especially the keeper as they were leaving the pitch yesterday. Lost my respect, grow up or f off out of my club 😡😡😡

Another loss for #LOFC as Barnsley take the points with a 3-1 win at Brisbane Road… Thoughts on today?

@al3xstripe @joe99231660 The actual exchange was… “Fuck off down the tunnel” Dennis: “We need you” x 2 “Fuck off down the tunnel” over and over Dennis: “Shut up”

@joe99231660 Dennis was giving it back to the fans calling for the team to do better when they walked round / off

By the way our 6th keeper of the year is also shit 😂 #lofc

@OrientOutlook Also some real low life behaviour swearing at the players at the end in the West stand. Yes it’s frustrating watching a lack of urgency at 3-1, but these players don’t want to lose games anymore than we do. Need to stick together. (Corrected a typo in my last post said “fans”)

@OrientOutlook Leaving them two on one for that corner was obviously gonna lead to a goal scoring chance. Subs at 2-1 moving Morris at left centre back killed us. Midfield bypassed after Clare came off. More comfortable at 4-2-3-1 but the game was done. Need a settled team to grind out points.

@TrisDixon Feels like a power move above all else. One fight deal so no guarantee of future business, but they’ll take Hearn’s second biggest name cos they can. Benn has perhaps hit his commercial peak with Eubank & may struggle to win a world title but it’s a statement of intent for Zuffa.

Seen a few interesting instances where fighters ‘cross the street’ Benn to Zuffa is right up there. Absolutely stunned at that… and intrigued to see if that will change his training arrangements

@JamesEastwood83 @West_Stand_O @leytonorientear Think they offered him a new contract but he got a longer deal at Cambridge. With Pratley, Ball, Brown and Galbraith all departing it’s incredible we only signed Bakinson and El Miz permanently. Been saying this since August but seems the club allocated funds elsewhere.

@West_Stand_O @leytonorientear Do you think I could pose it at the Star Man awards to Mr Wellens and Ling after we’ve been relegated to League Two….?

Can’t argue with this. #lofc

RIP, Robert Duvall… ♥️

We're saddened to hear that actor and filmmaker Robert Duvall has died aged 95. Duvall starred in a string of much-loved Hollywood classics including Apocalypse Now, for which he won a BAFTA, as well as The Godfather, MASH and To Kill a Mockingbird.

@TheLatinSnake_ “You’re not a wartime consigliere”Such a crushing line. What a scene.

“You’re out, Tom.”