Leyton Orient Fans' Trust Official Website

LOFT held its 2005 AGM on Thursday 11th August in the South Stand bar at Brisbane Road. The formal business of the AGM saw the three remaining original committee members standing again for election, as per LOFT's Rules (which are available on the Downloads page). All three (Doug Harper, Vicki Kaye and Peter Osborne) were re-elected by those members present.

As has become traditional, the main part of the AGM was a question and answer session, with Leyton Orient boss Martin Ling making his third appearance in front of LOFT's members. The mood was markedly different to that of his first appearance almost a year ago, where the O's had picked up just one point out of six and the first question asked had been "would you quit if you weren't up to it?"; this time, Ling was greeted with a warm ovation and the mood was much more positive - not surprising, given that the O's were top of the league with maximum points! - although the first question asked this year was exactly the same!

As always, Ling was characteristically honest in his answers, stressing as always that he wouldn't tell the fans anything he hadn't told the players themselves. Among the highlights of the evening were:

• Ling's reference to Orient suffering from "yellow ball syndrome", in other words flagging on winter trips up north. Ling feels that his new signings will give us more grit and resilience in this regard;
• Ling has "proper money" left in his kitty for the season to sign another striker, and has six or seven options on his list. "By hook or by crook, we will have signed someone by the end of August.";
• Efe, like Jabo, is "uncoachable...but taking some ideas on board.";
• The relationship with Ian Culverhouse (former Assistant Manager) broke down "like a marriage, but slowly, not with a big fight".
• On wanting promotion: "I want it as much as anything, and so does Deano. It hurts that we're still here in this division after ten years, and it'll hurt double for me it it doesn't work out here.";
• During Ling's time as a player at the club, he once ran a book on how many triallists then-manager Tommy Taylor would "fetch in" over a season;
• Ling picked up a lot on the Pro licence course he attended in the summer, but not only from the course itself: "If you can't learn from chats at the bar with Sam Allardyce on one side, Bryan Robson on the other, and Steve Clarke there as well, then you'll never learn!"
• Contrary to some fan speculation, agent Richard Cody does not have any involvement with transfers at the club. Ling conducts 90% of negotiations with players, and only brings Barry Hearn in Ling needs his help;
• On winning away at Southend last season: "I loved it...nights like that keep you going in the less good times.";
• Players have to take a "fat test" every month, and if they are not in the right range they have a 40-minute regime (the "fat club") to work on it. Ling is much happier with the fitness setup in place this season;
• Ling's Pro licence enables him to manage a Champion's League team, to which he said "well, that'll be useful for my Playstation";
• In Ling's opinion there is no reason why Orient can't compete in the division above, as there are teams of our stature who've progressed to the Championship;
• The new transfer window system is "as clear as mud".

Ling rounded off the meeting by promising to return in January again, and received an even bigger ovation at the end of the meeting as he had at the beginning.

Our thanks to Steve Dixon, Jan Morris and Matt Porter at the club for their help in arranging and publicising the evening. Congratulations to LOFT member Bill Linnell, who won a signed Orient shirt in a raffle drawn by Martin Ling; the raffle raised £58 towards LOFT's sponsorship target for this season.

A full list of Q&As will be provided to LOFT members in due course via the LOFT e-mail list and the next newsletter.

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