Leyton Orient won the League Two title on Saturday with a number of former Swindon players in the squad and ex-Robins boss Richie Wellens at the helm.
A 2-0 win over Crewe, courtesy of second-half goals from George Moncur and Charlie Kelman, was enough to get the O’s over the line.
Orient return to League One for the first time in eight seasons, having dropped out of the division under disastrous owner Francesco Becchetti.
While Swindon have endured a disappointing campaign, Robins fans can take consolation in the fact that they have influenced the title winners.
Richie Wellens
Wellens led Swindon to the League Two title in the 2018-19 season, which was interrupted with 10 games to go due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But his Town side were the consensus best team in the league at the time, adopting the possession-based approach that Orient have shown in 2022-23. In fact, Wellens’ Swindon side smashed Orient 3-1 away from home in September of 2019.
O’s fans will now be hoping that the 43-year-old stays with them next season, as he left Swindon for Salford shortly after winning his last title.
”My mission from day one was to stay up last year, so the turnaround in the last 12 months has been remarkable, and everyone at this club deserves it,” he said after the game.
Vigouroux, Hunt & Lyden
Orient’s squad includes three members of Swindon’s 2018-19 title-winning team: Lawrence Vigouroux, Rob Hunt and Jordan Lyden.
Vigouroux’s future was uncertain when Wellens was appointed, as the pair fell out in their time at the County Ground, but he has arguably been the O’s best player this season, keeping a club-record 23 clean sheets in the league.
Rob Hunt has been another key part of Wellen’s side, occupying either side of the back four on regular occasions.
Australian central midfielder Jordan Lyden only signed for Orient in January and has rarely features at Brisbane Road.
