Orient’s vice-captain asks ‘everybody’ to get behind the team for final three matches
Sean Clohessy has urged everyone associated with Leyton Orient to get behind the team and help them end the season strongly in the hope they reach the play-offs.
A 3-1 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, their 14th loss of the campaign, has made it look a tough ask for the Brisbane Road outfit to finish in the top seven of League Two, having dropped down to 11th place.
They are five points behind Wimbledon, who occupy the final play-off position and have a game in hand, and face the south Londoners this weekend.
If the O’s lose at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday, they will not be able to finish in the top seven and Clohessy admits they need all the help they can get.
He said: “We haven’t got the results we should have, and with the players we’ve got, we should be at the top of this league or right up there. We haven’t done that and it is only our own fault, but we need three wins and we need to see where it goes.
“If we go to Wimbledon and beat them, they have a tough game in hand against Portsmouth and then they will be looking over their shoulder, especially if we’ve gone there and won.
“We need everyone behind us, everyone at the club, press, fans and everyone on our side and we’ll see where it takes us.”
The former Southend man, who has come in for criticism at times this season, admits the players haven’t been good enough.
He was disappointed to see Ian Hendon and Kevin Nolan lose their jobs as manager of Orient, but concedes they cannot think about that right now.
Some O’s fans have recently voiced their displeasure at poor results and performances, but the 29-year-old has called on them to just back the team right now.
Clohessy added: “As a player, people think it is easy, but we have a lot of young lads here. I’ve been at a lot of clubs and people have thicker skin than others.
“When fans boo and shout, which is their prerogative if we are not playing well, some of the boys can go into their shell and it isn’t going to help the team. We know we haven’t done well enough this year for Ian Hendon, for Kevin Nolan and for Andy Hessenthaler now.”
Even though results have not been as good as first hoped, Orient have the faintest of chances still of making the play-offs. Only a win at Wimbledon will do, however, and it will be tough.
If Dons do pick up all three points it will mean the Brisbane Road club have to start planning for another campaign in League Two.
Who will take charge of the team next season remains up for debate and Clohessy admits the life of a manager is getting harder with each passing year.
“It is always a bit of a shock to lose a manager and it’s hard because you hear rumblings that fans aren’t happy and little rumours, but you never expect it to happen,” said the O’s defender.
“Especially in our positions because there are not many player-managers in the league or the world at the moment. It is a difficult situation for him to step down as a manager and just be a player. It is something nobody has dealt with before.
“That is a bit strange, but you have to get on with it. Managers don’t keep their jobs these days, it is ruthless. If they have a bad run of games, their job is always up for grabs and it has happened here.”
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