Wellens signs new Orient contract to 2028

Richie Wellens took Leyton Orient to the brink of the Championship this season

Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has signed a new three-year contract until the end of the 2027-28 campaign.

Wellens guided Orient to the League One play-off final last season, but they were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic to miss out on a return to the Championship

The 45- year-old previously led the east London club to promotion from League Two in 2023.

Wellens said that getting so close to the Championship had left him "wanting more".

He said in a statement: "We've seen progress season-by-season, and we want to keep improving and get this club to a level we think it can reach.

"I'm an ambitious person and an ambitious head coach, and I want to manage in the Championship, and I want to get there with Leyton Orient."

Wellens has transformed Orient during his tenure so far, having taken over in March 2022 with the club languishing just four points above the League Two relegation zone.

They won the League Two title just over 12 months later to return to the third tier for the first time in eight years.

Wellens also won the League Two title with Swindon in 2019 and the EFL Trophy with Salford City in 2020, and has also managed Oldham.

Orient finished sixth in the table in 2024-25, beating Stockport County on penalties following a 3-3 draw over two legs in the play-offs to reach Wembley.

Following the defeat by Charlton last month, Wellens said the club needed to "recruit right" with the majority of the squad for the play-off final out of contract this summer.

Orient chairman Nigel Travis said Wellens' committing his future to the club was "another step in the right direction".

Travis added: "Richie understands what this club is all about and has passion, the managerial skills and determination for the club to succeed.

"We're now in the transfer window, as I'm sure you'll all know, and we're working extremely hard behind the scenes to assemble a squad that we believe is capable of achieving our goals this season."