Jamaican discusses what it was like under Italian Fabio Liverani who failed to lead O’s to safety and was sacked as a result

East London Advertiser: Errol McKellar with Kevin Lisbie after the charity match for Prostate Cancer UK (pic: LOFC).Errol McKellar with Kevin Lisbie after the charity match for Prostate Cancer UK (pic: LOFC). (Image: 07958 573219 simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Former Leyton Orient forward Kevin Lisbie has revealed just how bad things were for him under previous manager Fabio Liverani.

Lisbie completed a move to League Two rivals Barnet recently when he was among 12 players not offered a new contract by the Brisbane Road outfit.

That occurred after the east London club had finished 23rd in League One and subsequently suffered relegation.

After failing to secure survival, Liverani left the club by mutual consent on May 13 after winning just eight of his 27 matches in charge of Orient.

Lisbie was one of many left out in the cold by the Italian boss and the Jamaica international has revealed just what it was like at O’s last season.

“I didn’t work with him,” replied Lisbie when asked how hard it was under Liverani. “I couldn’t tell you that I worked with him. We didn’t speak, there wasn’t any communication and we didn’t even have an argument.

“I wish I could tell you we did argue, but we didn’t argue, we would literally just walk past each other, but that is life. I don’t hold grudges.”

When you consider Lisbie had scored 18 goals the previous campaign for Orient, it is quite staggering to learn that Liverani wouldn’t even tell the 36-year-old why he wasn’t being selected.

He did struggle with injuries for parts of the season, but was left out of the squad on numerous occasions with no explanation following his return from shoulder surgery in December.

In March, with Orient battling relegation, Lisbie was sent on loan to League Two side Stevenage when he most likely would have offered more threat than fellow forward Gianvito Plasmati.

At the time it seemed a strange move and Lisbie believes the club took their foot off the pedal.

He added: “Injuries are a part of football, but I wasn’t out for that long with my shoulder. It was three months and I had another five months to make a difference.

“But I wasn’t selected and I couldn’t make a difference so I was more disappointed with not being selected than getting injured. It is disappointing that Leyton Orient are in League Two now, but I don’t think it got run properly last year.

“I don’t think it was done right and you pay the consequences. If you take your foot off the pedal in League One then you will get punished because there are some good teams.”

Orient fans are now crying out for stability after seeing four managers at the helm last year and Lisbie hopes Ian Hendon can bring that back to Brisbane Road.

He also revealed that he would have stayed at the club had he been offered new terms. The Jamaican went on to insist that out of the 10 players who haven’t yet been offered new deals, he believes all would wish to remain in E10 if they could.

“I hope Ian Hendon does bring stability because the club were so close to the Championship and now they are League Two when the least they deserve is to be in League One,” added Lisbie.

“I think everyone would have accepted a new contract if they had been offered it because we all love the club, but if you are not offered a new contract and told you are released you’ve got to go.

“I am quite sure all of the lads, if they were offered a new contract, would stay.”