Porter is confident the O's can push on

22 July 2010

CONFIDENT: Orient’s chief executive Matthew Porter is excited by manager Russell Slade’s summer signings.

By Trevor Davies

ORIENT chief executive Matthew Porter believes the relegation battles of the last two seasons are over and the club can now look to push on under manager Russell Slade.

The O's have been battling to beat the drop in successive seasons, before pulling clear of the relegation zone at the death - but he is optimistic that brighter times are ahead.

"I believe that the signs are really positive," revealed Porter, who has been delighted with the enthusiasm shown by boss Slade who moved into the hot seat at the start of April and reshaped the squad with a series of summer signings.

"It was a great advantage to have the majority of signings done before pre-season started," explained Porter.

"Of course, with so many players either being released or leaving, it meant that a fair chunk of the budget was available for Russell to spend.

"He was able to identify the targets he wanted and it was good to get so many players signed and the deals done and dusted early.

"There looks to be a really good blend and there is no reason why we can't push on."

Slade is working with the same budget as last season and Porter confirmed that there will be no more new arrivals.

"That's about it now," he revealed. "If there are to be any more new faces they will be loan players," he added.

The new-look Orient squad are currently in Devon playing in the Joma 2010 South West Challenge Cup competition and Porter believes it will prove to be a great team-bonding exercise.

"The last time we had a really big influx of players the team went on tour to Ibiza and we ended up winning promotion," he said.

"It will be great for all the new players to get to know each other and I'm sure it will help the team spirit.

"Ian Holloway took his Blackpool team to Devon to play in the same competition last season and they ended up winning promotion to the Premier League.

"The results do not really matter, but the fact that the players are away and bonding will be a real bonus."

Despite the loss of Leeds United, Norwich City and Millwall, who all won promotion, Porter hopes that the average gate might break the 5,000 barrier this term.

"Losing clubs like the three who went up is a blow, because they brought great support with them," he said.

"We have also lost teams like Southend, Gillingham and Wycombe, who were relegated and they would normally have brought a lot of fans with them.

"But we always knew that last season was a unique year.

"There was never going to be the same number of big clubs and southern-based sides in the division again.

"With Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth coming down, there will still be some big games and I don't think the division will be so polarised.

"Last season the teams who were at the top were there for much of the season and the same was true with the sides down the bottom. But this year it will be a much more of an even division and it will give us more of a chance to finish in the top half.

"Our gate went up last season, because of the extra away fans and it was not far short of 5,000."

Season ticket sales are around the same mark as they were this time a year ago and Porter hopes that a successful campaign might see them break though the 5,000 barrier.

"It's an achievable target and we would like to top 5,000," he said.

Porter believes the new signings will help Orient move to the next step and is sure the fans will be impressed.

"Stephen Dawson was the best midfielder in Division Two last season and Terrell Forbes is an established Division One player.

"Alex Revell comes with a good reputation, as does Dean Cox. He's like JJ Melligan, a player who always impressed when we played against him.

"We have some younger players too and I'm sure Russell will bring the best out of them."

Orient fans will have a chance to see their new signings when they entertain Spurs in a pre-season friendly next week and it's a match that Porter is looking forward to as well.

"It's always good to have a pre-season friendly against a Premier League side. Spurs have promised to send a strong team.

"It's good practice for our staff to organise a big game before the season starts."

*NEWS that FA Cup replays might be abolished is not a thought that delights Orient's chief executive Matt Porter.

"In first and second round games it wouldn't matter too much, because the money you would make from a midweek replay can be minimal," he said.

"But I would be upset in more ways than one if we held Manchester United at home and then were unable to play them in a replay.

"I think all Football League clubs would oppose such a move.