Carl Fletcher has not made a great start to life at Leyton Orient and Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to non-league minnows Maldon & Tiptree certainly didn’t help his already floundering reputation amongst O’s fans.
Without a win since he was appointed to the Brisbane Road managerial hot seat last month, Fletcher was left bitterly disappointed by the performance of his side in the 2-1 home defeat to the part-timers; currently a mere seventy-eight places below them in the league pyramid.
The defeat means the O’s have now failed to win in five matches in all competitions under the former Bournemouth midfielder. If the knives were out after their 1-0 defeat to bottom club Morecambe last time out in the league, they are now razor sharp after the latest embarrassing loss in the cup.
The O’s host League Two strugglers Scunthorpe United on Saturday and the club have announced the game has been made all-ticket after their successful ‘football for a fiver’ scheme has seen the match come close to selling out.
Many Orient fans reacted to the announcement by posting they hope the large crowd makes their feelings known to the under-fire boss if the game does not go well. While not explicitly stating they want the team to lose, many appear ambivalent if it means the pressure on Fletcher becomes unbearable.
It is looking even at this early stage that the Orient board has made an enormous mistake. In the face of massive unpopularity, Fletcher’s position is already verging on the untenable.
Here is a selection of responses to the latest club announcement on Twitter.
This is going to be eventful!
— Orient (@1881William) November 11, 2019
If we lose, which I hope we don’t obviously, I hope O’s fans barrack Fletcher mercilessly !!!
— Roger Lambeth (@superOrient1952) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/southendbob/status/1193922070834556929?s=20
I predict by half time Fletcher out will b ringing around the ground ,if yesterday is anything to go by
— Dave Bayles (@dave_bayles) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/loubear84/status/1193917324182589441?s=20
https://twitter.com/DanAuton2590/status/1193908496733003778?s=20
https://twitter.com/Andywobss/status/1193901665289723904?s=20
https://twitter.com/JadenChristy17/status/1193899908304166912?s=20
https://twitter.com/Joe_Pavett/status/1193900702701162496?s=20
