Leyton Orient boss makes ‘life-changing’ admission ahead of League One play-off final vs Charlton Athletic

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Leyton Orient will face Charlton Athletic on Sunday in the League One play-off final for a place in the 2025/26 Championship.

Leyton Orient face Charlton Athletic in the League One play-off final this weekend to decide which side will play Championship football next season.

Orient beat Stockport County 4-1 on penalties, following the 3-3 draw on aggregate, to send Richie Wellens’ side to Wembley.

On Sunday, they will face Charlton Athletic, after Nathan Jones’ side beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 in their double header to set up the momentous clash.

With second tier status up for grabs, Orient boss Wellens has made an honest admission ahead of the play-off final clash against Charlton, highlighting the importance of victory for the club’s future.

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Richie Wellens makes honest admission ahead of League One play-off final

As seen by Ipswich Town’s back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, securing Championship status makes a monumental difference for English Football League clubs.

According to BBC Sport, clubs in the Championship received around £11m for the 2024/25 season, which is made up of solidarity payments and awards from the Premier League.

This constitutes a significant jump in revenue from the £2m received per season for playing in League One.

Taking Cardiff City’s relegation from the Championship down to League One, the financial abyss suffered by Cardiff is staggering, given the multi-million pounds worth of total estimated revenue income between the two leagues.

On Sunday, both Orient and Charlton players have the chance to make history on the pitch, and change the course of their respective clubs for the better financially.

Orient boss Wellens is well aware that the outcome of Sunday’s League One play-off final would be “life-changing”.

Wellens told Leyton Orient’s media: “It does rest on everything,

“This has everything lying on it, this is life-changing for the players, it’s different for the club, the club can evolve and grow and get better.

“Listen, we can beat around the bush, can’t we? We can say it’s just another game, but it’s not. It’s a big one.”

• READ MORE: Five players destined for Championship next season regardless of League One play-off result, Charlton should be worried

Oxford United set example for League One play-off final winner to follow

Oxford United won the 2023/24 League One play-off final against Bolton Wanderers last season, winning 2-0 at Wembley thanks to a Josh Murphy brace, to secure second tier status.

In their Championship return, with Gary Rowett taking over in December from Des Buckingham, the U’s have stabilised in the league following their finish in 17th.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	Oxford UnitedOxford United	46	13	14	19	49	65	-16	53

Oxford ace Cameron Brannagan has outlined his “ambitious” dreams for Premier League promotion, hoping to mirror the fairytale success stories of Luton Town and Ipswich, who reached the top flight against all odds.

Looking ahead to next season, fighting relegation would inevitably be the more likely outcome for the eventual League One play-off final winner, rather than hunting successive promotions.

Charlton and Orient know what to expect from the fortunes of the last five League One play-off final winners, making clear the impact Championship promotion can bring.

However, given that the financial gulf between the third tier and the Championship is so significant, either Orient or Charlton will be hoping to follow the suit of Oxford next season; with the small matter of the third tier play-off finale ahead in the meantime.