'Weak' Orient players wasted year of career - Wellens

Richie Wellens arrived at Leyton Orient four years ago after being sacked by Doncaster Rovers [Getty Images]

Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens has issued a scathing attack on his own players, accusing them of wasting a year of his managerial career.

The O's escaped relegation from League One on the final day of the season after securing a 2-2 draw against Burton Albion.

However, Wellens was in far from a celebratory mood and said his players had been "serving up rubbish".

"I've come out a couple of times and had a go at our supporters in the past. I'm going to apologise for that now. I'm going to tell you the reason why I've done it," he told BBC Radio London.

"We've got a weak group - really, really weak, OK? And when our supporters give them criticism, I try and take the criticism off them.

"So I come out and say the atmosphere wasn't great and then supporters come at me.

"I don't feel that my protection of them, or going on the verge of ruining a relationship with a group of supporters I've got an unbelievable relationship with, is worth it.

"Week in, week out - especially the past six or seven weeks - they get served up with rubbish.

"There are too many players that have wasted 10 months of their career and wasted my time. I've had one year of my management that has been wasted by the players.

"And then they have wasted the supporters' time. They have not given them enough days to turn up to.

"There's not enough people at this football club with the mentality to win."

Wellens criticised his players for playing for a draw against Burton in the closing stages,in the knowledge that relegation rivals Exeter were losing to Bradford, and then celebrating on the pitch after confirmation they had stayed up.