On the 14th November 2017, Steve Davis was sacked as Leyton Orient manager as the O’s sat two places above the relegation zone in the National League.
After being appointed as manager of Orient following the club’s relegation from League Two, ending a 112-year stay in the Football League, Davis was brought in to take the club back to its former glory and secure promotion from the National League as soon as possible, but it was soon clear that the former Crew Alexandre boss was not the right man for the job.
Despite winning five out of his first 10 games Orient manager, it was to be Davis’ only good spell with the club as the O’s failed to win a game from the 2nd September to end of his tenure at the historic team, and after 2-1 loss away to Ebbsfleet United, the manager was sacked by the club.
Here’s how Leyton Orient fans reacted to the news…
Sadly the right decision, a lovely bloke and I’m gutted it didn’t work out for him! All the best for the future steve. We move on, this is most definitely the most important appointment in the clubs history! #nostoneunturned @OrientOutlook
— John Mcintyre (@Essexbizz) 14 November 2017
Very dignified send-off from the club, acknowledging the situation Davis faced. Now they need to choose the right man/partnership going forward.
— Leyton Orient (@orientmemories) 14 November 2017
Right decision I’m afraid, hope the results improve and we move up the table
— Orient Fan TV (@OrientFanTV) 14 November 2017
Feel for Davis but we need results
— Louise Teenans (@loubear84) 14 November 2017
Thank you for trying, onwards and upwards
— Pav (@Joe_Pavett) 14 November 2017
Wish Steve Davis all the best. It just wasn’t happening for him at the O’s. #lofc
— OrientSteve (@OrientSteve) 14 November 2017
Had to go #LOFC
— Eoin Gray (@EoinPGray) 14 November 2017
Owners made the correct decision, let’s hope we get a manager with national league experience
— Jack Coates (@JackCoates14) 14 November 2017
With the next appointment crucial for Orient, it was vital the club hired the right man for the job, and that’ exactly what the east London side did in the form of Justin Edinburgh.
The former Northampton Town manager guided the club to safety in the 2017/18 season, only picking up seven losses from the time of his appointment to the end of the campaign and taking the club to 13th in the National League table.
But it’s what Edinburgh did in his first full season with the O’s that has put the 49-year-old manager into Orient folklore when the former defender guided the east London side to promotion back to the Football League after just two years in the National League.
Davis was a poor appointment for Orient, but his sacking set a chain reaction that led the club to hire Edinburgh, who returned the O’s back to the Football League in a quicker time period than what many fans expected and has ultimately formed a team and environment that has set the east London side up for a promising future back in League Two.
Leyton Orient fans, was the sacking of Davis the best thing to happen to the O’s? Let us know!
