Francesco Becchetti is no longer in charge at Leyton Orient after a controversial period of ownership which saw the club relegated out of the Football League.
An Eagle Investments consortium led by Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts chief executive Nigel Travis has taken over. He is a lifelong fan. The price paid has not been disclosed.
Francesco Becchetti is no longer in charge at Leyton Orient after a controversial period of ownership which saw the club relegated out of the Football League.
An Eagle Investments consortium led by Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts chief executive Nigel Travis has taken over. He is a lifelong fan. The price paid has not been disclosed.
He said that fans should not expect immediate promotion back to the Football League. ‘I think the first thing I will say is we have got our club back. It has been a long process, but we have a great team.’
‘We are really excited about what we are going to do and we need to be careful we don’t get people too excited too quickly because we have a lot of building to do.’
‘We are going to be realistic, but we have plans to engage the fans. We will have a fan representative on the board.’
Another leading investor is Kent Teague from Dallas, Texas. He comes from a hi tech background, having worked for Microsoft. He is the managing partner of Gold Creek Capital. He sold an innovative electronic litigation company, of which he was the sole owner, in 2015.
He decided to make a long-term commitment to Orient when he saw the fans support at the Blackpool match. He was also impressed by the engagement of fans throughout the whole process.
Becchetti told the club website, ‘I invested a great deal in the Club in good faith and have delivered the Club to Nigel Travis and his consortium without any debts to the banks, without arrears for taxes and salaries and in a normal situation with its suppliers. This is a position from which it can grow. Over the last two years, I have, unfortunately, not been able to dedicate myself to following the Club as closely as I would have wanted.’