Leyton Orient holed up in a hotel after Hartlepool loss

Leyton Orient players feel they are playing under a "dictatorship" having been forced to spend the week in a hotel as punishment following their latest defeat, Sky sources understand.

Orient's owner Francesco Becchetti ordered the team coach to head straight for the Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey following their 2-1 loss at Hartlepool on Sunday.

Sky sources understand Becchetti's decision to summon the squad to the hotel has come as a "massive shock" to the players, many of them having young families at home. 

The club's 18 players, manager Ian Hendon, assistant Andy Hessenthaler and six staff members have been holed up at the four-star Essex hotel ever since.

Players have been allowed out to visit family in their spare time but have had to return to the hotel to eat and sleep.

Despite this punishment, Sky sources understand it has further enhanced the players' backing of Hendon.

Sky sources also understand Becchetti does not view the move as a punishment and believes it is a way of trying to improve results. 

Hendon confirmed the team had been staying at the hotel, which is a five-minute coach ride away from their Chigwell training ground, since Sunday.

"I wouldn't want to be the one paying the bill," joked Hendon in the Daily Mail. 

"The owner has had different sporting ventures over the years and he said sometimes it's good to get together and spend time together. It helps team bonding. When the owner suggested it I thought, 'Why not try something different?'" 

Orient made a promising start to the season with five straight wins but have since slumped to seventh in the table after winning just twice in the last 12 league games.

The O's face York at home on Saturday and Hendon admits he does not know whether they will be allowed to return home afterwards.

"If we win four or five-nil the owner might ask us to move here permanently," he added.