Leyton Orient Manager Apologizes to Tottenham for Inappropriate Comment

Richie Wellens, the manager of Leyton Orient, has issued a formal apology to Tottenham Hotspur and their manager Ange Postecoglou following an ill-considered remark about injuries.

The incident occurred during Wellens’ post-match interview after Orient’s 1-0 loss to Stockport. When questioned about his team’s injury situation, Wellens made an inappropriate reference to Postecoglou, saying “I’m not Ange Postecoglou and keep using it as an excuse.”

After realizing the impropriety of his statement, Wellens quickly retracted it. The club removed the comment from the video footage, and Wellens released an official apology on the team’s website.

In his statement, Wellens expressed deep regret for his “stupid comment” about Tottenham Hotspur. He acknowledged the strong relationship between Orient and Spurs, emphasizing that he never intended to jeopardize it. Wellens praised Postecoglou as a “world-class coach” and extended his best wishes to Tottenham for the remainder of the season.

The two clubs have maintained close ties in recent years. Tottenham has loaned young players Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley to Orient this season. Additionally, Tottenham’s women’s team regularly plays home matches at Orient’s Brisbane Road stadium.

Wellens’ swift apology aims to preserve the positive relationship between the clubs and demonstrate respect for Postecoglou and Tottenham, who have faced significant injury challenges this season.