Orient loan stars 'difficult to replace'

Charlie Kelman (left) and Jamie Donley have starred for Leyton Orient on loan this season

Leyton Orient's loan stars, such as League One top scorer Charlie Kelman, Jamie Donley and goalkeeper Josh Keeley, will be hard to replace, says former O's midfielder Jobi McAnuff.

Richie Wellens' side were defeated 1-0 in the League One play-off final by Charlton Athletic, with 11 of the 18-strong matchday squad either on loan or out of contract this summer.

Wellens described the feeling as "heartbreaking" that he would not get to work with this current squad again as he reflected on the defeat at Wembley.

Having joined the club in March 2022 and won the League Two title the following year, he will now have to rebuild his squad again before his third full season begins in August.

"It's never helpful to have as many [players on loan] because every season you're having to restart again," McAnuff said on BBC Radio 5 Live's 72+ podcast.

"Jamie Donley the most assists, Charlie Kelman the most goals – that's already gone out [of] your team, so that is really difficult to replace."

Josh Keeley made 45 appearances for the O's last season but is set for a return to parent club Tottenham

Kelman top-scored in the the league this season, with 22 goals, scoring a 23rd in the first leg of Orient's semi-final victory over Stockport County and a further four in other competitions.

He is set to return to his parent club Queens Park Rangers.

Donley, who has eight goals and 11 assists to his name, is due to head back to Tottenham along with goalkeeper Keeley, who made 45 appearances and scored a memorable FA Cup goal against Oldham.

Left-back Jack Currie is also set to leave, with his loan from Oxford United expiring.

American consortium GSG LOFC Limited completed a takeover of Leyton Orient in April to bring in new funds, with Nigel Travis continuing as chairman.

McAnuff, who made 119 appearances for the O's, believes the club is in a healthier position than after their last League One play-off final defeat, in 2014.

They were beaten by Rotherham on penalties at Wembley and then relegated to League Two the following season, before dropping down to the National League two years later.

"I think there will be a hope of maybe getting some longer-term signings made," McAnuff, who won the National League title with the club in 2018-19, added.

"One of the downsides of getting to a play-off final is you have less time to prepare, there's clubs who have already been doing a lot of that work, they've been making offers to players, maybe contracts are already signed.

"So there is a bit of catch-up to do but I think the club's in a really good place to move forward and it's an exciting place to be at Leyton Orient; fantastic club, lovely stadium and shown it can compete at the very top end of League One."