LEYTON ORIENT owner Francesco Becchetti has begun paying off creditors owed money ahead of the second winding up petition on Monday, SunSport understands.
The unpopular Italian, locked in takeover negotiations for most of the summer, still owed large sums of money to various bodies after the first petition was adjourned back in March.
Back then, he promised to inject £1million into the club, which did not appear – in fact, players and staff were paid late for the next two months.
Meanwhile, the likes of the London Borough of Waltham Forest and club photographer Simon O’Connor were left unpaid from the first hearing.
But SunSport understands they, along with the likes of former owner Barry Hearn – charging them for unpaid rent on the club’s Brisbane Road ground – have now been paid ahead of the hearing.
It is thought Becchetti will also appeal for dismissal of the winding-up order hanging over the club as a result to avoid the prying eyes of an administrator.
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It is unclear whether another creditor Chigwell School, owners of the club’s training ground, have been paid.
The school turfed Orient out recently, and with pre-season round the corner, the proud east London outfit currently have nowhere to train.
With most senior players having left the club upon relegation to the National League last season for the first time in their history, Orient are now left with just a handful of under-contract youngsters.
Becchetti, who has gone through a dozen managers and almost two relegations since taking over three years ago, is hated by the support.
And unless the off-field situation can be resolved and players can be signed, they will take their place in the fifth tier next campaign with a shell of a club.
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