Football Season Guide

After leading League One for so long last season, Leyton Orient had their promotion dream ended in the cruelest of fashions, as they fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Rotherham in a game in which they lead 2:0. Despite reportedly being wanted by several Championship clubs during the summer, Russel Slade decided to stay with the O's and try and help the club fulfill their Championship dream. There are rumours that Slade was looking to leave the club until a takeover took place in early July, with the new owners promising to invest in new signings, and delivering on their promise so far. Slade is known as a manager who is reluctant to make wholesale squad changes, and it is therefore hardly surprising that the O's are one of the sides that changes the least during the summer transfer window. Keeper Jamie Jones, who missed the majority of the previous season with an injury, has left, but Gary Woods and Adam Legzdins have both been signed as replacements, and will be expected to fight it out for the number one short. The second notable departure is the one of Moses Odubajo, as the O's were unable to prevent the talented winger from joining their rivals Brentford, who will play their trade in the Championship next season. However, they signed a promising replacement for the departed youngster, as Jobi McAnuff, once a key player for Reading, joined them on a free transfer. Despite being past his peak years, the 32-year-old wide man still has a lot to offer at League One level, and should prove to be an useful addition. Another notable summer capture is the one of former Hull and Arsenal striker Jay Simpson. There is a major question mark hanging over Simpson's form at the moment, as he returns to England following a spell in Thailand, but the fact that Slade opted to offer Simpson a three-year deal suggests that he is confident that the new boy will deliver the goods. Another new signing was made on Friday, as Darius Henderson signed following his release by Nottingham Forest. Henderson is another player who will be expected to shine at League One level, and the O's will have an impressive attacking quartet going into the new season.