EFL demands answers over Orient's pay dispute with Francesco Becchetti
Monday 24 April 2017 19:55, UK
The EFL says it is "exceptionally concerned" over Leyton Orient's payment dispute with owner Francesco Becchetti.
Players and staff at the stricken east London club had called for intervention from the governing body as they are yet to receive their wages for March and are due to receive their wages for April on the 28th.
Such is the gravity of the situation, certain members of the Orient staff have been forced to relocate from their homes, with Becchetti currently AWOL and not attending matches.
The barrister of the Italian businessman told the Royal Courts of Justice in March that his client would pump £1m into the club following a winding-up order from HMRC for an unpaid tax bill, believed to be £250,000.
Becchetti, who has presided over a dismal period at Orient since completing his purchase of the club in 2014, was also given until June 12 to clear all the debts.
Orient dropped out of the Football League after 112 years on Saturday, a 3-0 defeat away at Crewe consigning them to relegation.
Now the EFL has assured them it is "doing everything (it) can" to save the club.
The EFL statement read: "(We) remain exceptionally concerned about the current situation at Leyton Orient.
"We are also aware of the frustration being expressed by the club's staff. This is shared by the EFL executive, as we are similarly seeking answers to a number of important questions from the directors of the club. Silence is not an acceptable response.
"The EFL board received an update on the situation at its meeting on April 6 with the club being asked to provide a further commitment following widespread reporting that the required funding had not been made available. No response has been received to date."
The EFL was also at pains to point out that while it was able to judge an individual's eligibility to own a club - it could not pass judgement on their ability to run that club.
Their statement continued: "There has been significant comment in recent days about the EFL's Owners' and Directors' Test in the context of the ownership of Leyton Orient.
"It is important that supporters understand that the test governs the eligibility of who is able to own a club; it does not also ensure that those individuals have the capability to manage it properly.
"While Leyton Orient may have been relegated to the National League, the EFL will continue to do everything it can to ensure that the future of the club is secured."
An earlier statement on behalf of the Leyton Orient players and staff read: "Further to our previous statement dated April 19 where we appealed to the club's board of directors, we have been met with a wall of silence.
"Chief Operating Officer Vito Miceli had no answers to questions posed by a Waltham Forest Guardian journalist following Saturday's fixture in which the club's relegation was confirmed.
"We are now on the 24th day of the month and are yet to receive a payment of wages for March, with April due in only four days' time.
"We are extremely concerned about the ongoing situation given the effect of non-payment of mortgages and rent are already resulting in staff having to relocate."
