During the season 1994/5 a documentary was made following the demise towards relegation of Leyton Orient football club and near liquidation. 'Leyton Orient: Club for a fiver' gave unique insight into the world of the struggles at lower league level with access to the dressing room's at half time, the board meetings to discuss how to recoup the money from tumbling attendances and in-depth interviews with the management team trying to keep the club on the rails.
It's with the management team that the documentary mainly focuses on, John Sitton, a legend of the club along with Chris Turner who would later go on to manage Sheffield Wednesday amongst others. At the beginning the situation is bleak, Orient are under-performing and sliding down the league along with the current chairman Tony Wood's coffee-manufacturing business in Rwanda having been ruined in the civil war meaning that the club is up for sale for a not-so-optimistic price of £5. Wood claims that this offer is 'tongue in cheek' and that the investor or investors will be laboured with hefty bills upon acquiring the club.
Whilst 3-0 down away at Brentford Sitton decides to lay into the dejected Orient side at half time by bellowing threats of 'This geezer wants people on £250 a week' 'he's on about settlements' but to no avail sadly as the scoreline remains the same and another three points slips away from Orient's grasp. From the outset it's clear that both Sitton and Turner care immensely for the clubs welfare but with injuries decimating the squad and no funds available for replacements the season, much like Sitton's language, takes a drastic turn for the worse.
Then comes the legendary half time interval at home to Blackpool with Orient 1-0 down the gloves come off once again as Sitton begins in a calm explanatory tone towards an under-performing player in demand of a new contract before turning to fans favourite Terry Howard announcing that he's got a week's notice and will have his contract terminated with the club. Fearing retribution Sitton then goes on to utter a line that will go down in footballing history "You, you little cunt, when I tell you to do something, and you, you fucking big cunt, when I tell you to do something, do it. And if you come back at me, we'll have a fucking right sort-out in here. All right? And you can pair up if you like, and you can fucking pick someone else to help you, and you can bring your fucking dinner. 'Cos by the time I've finished with you, you'll fucking need it."
Sadly Sittons words of wisdom don't have the desired effect as Orient slump to another defeat via the 1-0 scoreline. Shortly after news of the sale of the club to local boxing promoter Barry Hearn is announced leaving both Sitton and Turner in fear of 'wholesale changes' happening at the club. With Hearn perched above the bench at Brisbane Road during a defeat against Crewe the fans behind Sitton and Turner voice their discontent with chants of 'Sitton out' and later it appears that Hearn has not failed to listen.
Departing the club Sitton remains philosophical announcing that he's had offers from Kuwait and Cyprus that would have made him a small fortune but due to the reputation he has within British football at F.A level the lure of Orient made it a heart-over-head decision to accept the co-managerial post. Sitton almost comes across as the fans voice in the dressing room, dismayed and disillusioned with players on large salaries yet little in the way of effort to earn it. Constant berating and bellowing at those who choose to ignore his methods yet Sitton remains gracious in defeat and offers thanks to the players and staff at the time of he and Turner's departure.
Subsequently after filming Chris Turner took up a post at Leicester City while things were a little less rosy for John Sitton, not only was he dismissed from Leyton Orient he was then banned from the ground. Sitton has recently worked as a black cab driver in London and compiles stats part-time for the press associations Actim index. After reviewing his portrayal on the documentary Sitton said he was 'embarassed' about his behaviour and stated that he missed the game deeply in addition that he had 'over 60' job applications rejected since leaving Leyton Orient and felt that football had 'turned its back on him'.
For those wishing to view the documentary which is well worth a watch the link is here.
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