Leyton Orient owner delivers ambitious verdict on proposed new stadium project after breakthrough

Leyton Orient majority shareholder David Gandler believes a proposed new stadium could provide the platform for the club to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Orient are exploring a major multi-sport campus in Waltham Forest, with the ambitious project potentially transforming the club both on and off the pitch.

New Leyton Orient stadium site will help the club grow quickly

Last month, Orient signed a second agreement with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to explore the options for a new multi-sport campus.

The project would see the club leave Brisbane Road, their home since 1937, with the aim of moving into a new stadium within the borough in time for their 150th anniversary in 2031.

The precise location has not yet been revealed, but Gandler says the club has identified a site which could help deliver its long-term ambitions.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, he described the proposal as a “large-scale project” involving capital expenditure in the billions of pounds and said it could create thousands of jobs in the area.

Gandler believes the site could allow the League One outfit to “grow and grow quickly”, describing the club as a “blank canvas” despite its long history.

Youth employment is also expected to be a major part of the wider development, with Gandler highlighting the lack of opportunities available to young people across London and the UK.

Despite the enormous scale of the proposed project, Gandler has also stressed that keeping football affordable remains a priority.

He also wants ticket prices to remain broadly flat, arguing that families should continue to be able to attend matches together.

FGG says: Leyton Orient could be entering an exciting new era

The ambition behind this project is certainly significant, particularly for a club which has spent much of the last decade outside the Championship.

A new stadium could provide Orient with considerably greater commercial opportunities and the infrastructure to grow.

The most encouraging aspect is that Gandler appears to view the development as something bigger than simply replacing Brisbane Road, with jobs, youth opportunities and community facilities forming part of the wider vision.