Former midfielder keeping fingers crossed Brisbane Road club can move forward and rebuild after today

Michael Collins is hopeful Leyton Orient’s appearance in the High Court today will bring a positive outcome and allow the National League club to finally start planning for the future.

The 31-year-old announced his departure from Brisbane Road on Friday, making the decision to reject a new one-year deal.

Collins only joined O’s in October, but struck up a strong affinity with the Orient fans and is shocked the club are due to appear in court at some point after 10.30am today.

While the east Londoners are set to face a second winding-up petition in the space of three months, it is understood chairman Francesco Becchetti has settled the debt to most creditors.

“Like a lot of people I was hoping the club wouldn’t have to go back to the High Court and things would be sorted well before that,” said Collins.

“The talk with the people I spoke to and the players was that it wouldn’t go as far as appearing in court and that it would all be sorted. The hardest part has been the lack of communication and that has been a big factor in my decision.

“Nothing has come out and been clarified in real detail about how takeover talks have gone or whether the current chairman is going to stay in place, so that’s been hard.

“It is difficult for any player to commit to a club when you don’t know what direction the club is going to go in, so that is part of the reason I have taken this decision.

“Monday is a big day for the club, but hopefully it is a positive day and then the club and the fans can rebuild and get it back to where it should be. I have said before it is a club that should be playing a lot higher than League Two in my opinion.”

Collins was reluctant to confirm where he will be playing for the 2017/18 campaign out of respect for Orient.

The ex-Scunthorpe United captain wanted to pay tribute to the supporters of the east London club for sticking with him and the team through thick and thin.

“My next move will be announced in the coming days I think, but out of respect for my new club and Leyton Orient I only want to talk about Leyton Orient,” said Collins.

“That club deserves that respect. I just want to say thank you to Leyton Orient and especially the fans and the staff who stuck together and continued during difficult circumstances.

“In the coming days or weeks my next move will be announced and I will move on and Leyton Orient will. It could have been different, but that is football and an exciting opportunity has come up and I have the backing of my family, so that’s what I will be doing.”

All Orient fans will hope the exciting times can come back to Brisbane Road soon, but for that to happen, a change of ownership is required.