Liverani states he isn’t responsible for squad of players available to him during the campaign
Leyton Orient were relegated to League Two on Sunday and manager Fabio Liverani has taken responsibility for the sorry events that occurred at the County Ground and throughout the campaign.
But the Italian has admitted the squad of players he is working with aren’t his, therefore he cannot take the blame for the amount of money they are apparently earning.
Orient’s final 90 minutes in League One against Swindon Town turned out to be a fitting way to end a disastrous season.
At half time it looked like the Great Escape could be on and the visiting supporters might get what they deserve – a team that hasn’t suffered relegation.
Dean Cox put Liverani’s side ahead in the 40th minute, after Lloyd James had seen his penalty saved in the 22nd minute by substitute goalkeeper Cameron Belford.
He had replaced brother Tyrell Belford, who was sent off for fouling James inside the box, but Orient could not make the most of the numerical advantage they held for 70 minutes.
Chris Dagnall put them 2-0 up shortly after the interval, but with news coming through that results elsewhere were not going their way, O’s crumbled embarrassingly.
Swindon’s Anton Rodgers reduced the arrears with a stunning goal, before Andy Williams converted a late penalty to consign O’s to League Two.
“I feel responsible for the relegation because I am the manager,” said Liverani.
“But not for the squad that was built by other people before my arrival. I have not been involved with negotiating the salaries of the players or bringing them in.
“I found a team and I was convinced that they had the quality to avoid relegation. Unfortunately this didn’t happen.”
It is rumoured that Orient’s squad of players were one of the highest paid in the division, and yet they have finished second bottom and not mounted the promotion charge most expected.
Liverani discussed a big problem he has faced following full time at the County Ground.
He added: “I have to say lots of players had plenty of injuries, recurring injuries, and they have missed the majority of the season and the majority of training, so this was certainly a problem during the season for me.”
It was a problem for the Italian boss, but every team has to deal with injuries and with the squad available to him, he should have done better.
Liverani has changed the team too many times and that is one of a number of reasons why Orient will be plying their trade in the fourth tier next year.
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