Source: TheGuardian
Rogues’ gallery: English football’s worst owners, from Becchetti to Bates | Barry Glendenning
Leyton Orient fans believe their owner is leading them to oblivion but Hicks and Gillett, and Peter Ridsdale at Leeds remind us feckless owners are nothing new In just two and a half seasons as owner, the waste-management magnate has taken Leyton Orient from the verge of the Championship to the brink of relegation from the Football League and possibly even extinction. Since buying the club from Barry Hearn for £4m, the Italian has overseen nine managerial changes and faced repeated claims of interference in team affairs. In December 2015, he earned himself a six-match ban for kicking Orient’s then assistant manager, Andy Hessenthaler, following a win over Portsmouth. Last week, Orient survived a winding-up order at the high court and Becchetti was given until 12 June to either sell the club or pay off its debts. Waltham Forest council are among the creditors, for providing health and safety advice, as is the company that provides match-day stewards and the official club photographer. If Becchetti fails to either pay or sell up, Orient – bottom of League Two and seven points off the last safe spot – risk going into liquidation and out of existence. Related: Leyton Orient facing the full fury of a spiteful owner scorned Related: Blackburn approach visit of Manchester United under cloud of Venky’s turmoil | Andy Hunter Related: Ken Bates's career traced change in football from game to big business Continue reading......read full article
