Leyton Orient boss Wellens: My soft spot for Carlisle United

And the Leyton Orient manager has described the Blues as a “sleeping giant”.

Wellens was speaking ahead of this weekend’s League One clash at Brunton Park.

It is his first visit to the ground since last October’s stormy 3-2 Orient win after which Wellens claimed coins were thrown at him from the Paddock terrace along with “vile” abuse.

The Os boss, though, took a softer stance when discussing United and their supporters this time around.

“I’ve got a little bit of a soft spot for Carlisle,” said Wellens.

“I remember a couple of years ago when I went there with Swindon…you get these supporters behind the dugout and they just give you pelters for the whole 90 minutes.

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“When I was at Swindon I had a little nibble, and as soon as I did that it was, ‘He’s gone, he’s took the bait…’

“I promised myself that when we went up there last year that I wouldn’t nibble. And I think the fact I didn’t nibble got on their nerves.

“Some of the comments went a bit too far. But all is forgiven in love and war.”

Wellens, speaking to Orient’s official channels, was full of praise for the job his former Blackpool team-mate Paul Simpson has done at United.

“I like Simmo, he’s a great guy,” he said. “I played with Simmo and have a lot of time for him – he had a brilliant left foot, and has done a fantastic job.

Richie Wellens on the touchline at Brunton Park last season (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“It’s amazing – the season before last, the three clubs that were fighting for survival [Orient, Stevenage and Carlisle], the three managers came in, myself, Steve Evans and Simmo, and the next season all got promoted.

“I don’t think that would happen too many times.

“It’s a bit of a sleeping giant, Carlisle. The pull and attraction of the area is huge. A good club and a brilliant manager.”

Wellens, whose side are three points and three places above United in 16th, says he was impressed with how Carlisle defeated Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

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“I’ve watched that game, and they were a real threat on the counter-attack, [had] a good shape, [were] very aggressive in terms of they’ll follow you man for man and back themselves,” said the manager of last season’s League Two champions.

“It was a really good performance. Bolton ran out of ideas, Carlisle frustrated them and got them on the counter.

“It will be a tough game. A different game because they’re at home. We really struggled there last year – we went 3-1 up and were playing against ten men, but they were outstanding, it was one of the toughest games we had.”

Wellens said Orient are training in Penrith today ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Brunton Park.

The manager also referred to the “emotional” period the club have had following the death of lifelong fan Derek Reynolds earlier this month.

Mr Reynolds was taken ill during Orient’s game against Lincoln City on October 3. The game was abandoned as the 74-year-old received treatment, but he later passed away.

Wellens said the club and their fans had “stood in unity together” and showed compassion and support “for one of our own”.