Orient manager admits it is so important the fans have a club to support after today’s appearance in the High Court
Danny Webb praised the performance of Leyton Orient defender Tom Parkes despite Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers.
The centre back netted a stunning equaliser for O’s after Tommy Rowe had opened the scoring at Brisbane Road.
John Marquis hit a brace after the break while Mathieu Baudry added a fourth, but Parkes was impressive throughout.
Webb said: “Yes Tom was excellent. Before the game I say to all of the players try and get something positive from the match.
“Even at Accrington Stanley the other night, I want them to take something from it and the message to Tom was to try the best he can and practise your leadership skills.
“He is only 25, but he had to be a leader with three teenagers alongside him and he did very well, so I think he has learnt from this.
“In the future you will see times where he will take the lead and tell Michael Clark it has to go long or tell Aron Pollock to kick it out.
“These are all little things and as much as it is hard when you lose 4-1, I would like to think all the young players have gained something.”
Orient’s next battle takes place today in the High Court, as they face a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill to HM Revenue and Customs.
It is hard to know what will take place, but the hope is that whatever happens the O’s fans still have a club to support.
Webb added: “It is very hard just to put a load of players on the pitch here because there is always something going on.
“They are cracking on with it and not hiding, but they were a bit flat and low in the changing room after which is understandable.
“We can’t lose sight of the most important thing and that is the club and that the supporters have a club to support, so hopefully it all gets resolved.”
If a positive outcome can be reached, then Orient can continue with their battle to avid relegation to the National League.
O’s looks odds-on to go down this season, as they are seven points from safety with only eight games remaining.
But the return of Liam Kelly will help and the midfielder looked assured throughout on Saturday afternoon.
“Liam is a leader and it is hard for him as well because he is one of those players in the summer that I am sure was promised the world,” said Webb.
“We had him at Plymouth Argyle and then the ball boy incident happens and all of a sudden we haven’t got him for six games.
“There are a lot of things which have gone against us and at the same time, there were signs on Saturday that had this been pre-season, would we be down the bottom? No definitely not.
“But it is not and we are at the end of the line and we have got to do our best to try and get over the right side of it.”
Orient’s winding-up petition is set to be heard no earlier than 11am in Court 1 in the High Court and Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust (LOFT) are prepared for every eventuality in court later today.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here