13 April 2023

The Circus Upstairs podcast Season One


The Circus Upstairs podcast season one is live! 

Listen here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/west-stand-o

This is the story of how Italian billionaire Francesco Becchetti bought Leyton Orient and almost put the club out of existence, told by club insiders and pieced together by me and James Masters. 

Here's a list of links and other references to some of the stories from Season One:

Episode 1: The Iron Pact of Inviolability 

The statement announcing Becchetti's take over of the club 

The Barry Hearn / Francesco Becchetti press conference

Mauro Milanese's hair: 


Russell Slade post-match interview after Notts County game and "ultimatum" 

Becchetti's column in programme explaining actions around the Slade ultimatum 


Episode 2: The Manager Merry-Go-Round 

Rumours of how much Andrea Dossena was being paid 

Blog from Liverani's first game in charge, a 2-1 home defeat to Peterborough 

Dean Cox's furious post-match interview after defeat to Barnsley 

Liverani says he should have replaced all 11 players after 4-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe 


Episode 3: Leyton Orient: The Reality Show 

Story in The Independent confirming upcoming reality show

Nicole Kidman at Agon Channel launch party in Milan


Trailer for reality show 

Clips from the show

Focus on joint winner of reality show Jacopo Colangelo

Joint winner Jacopo Colangelo signs for Certaldo in the Tuscan league


Joint winner Andrea Paloni signs for Cynthia in Serie D 


Episode 4: The Strange Tale of the Mole and Stolen Honey 

Becchetti interview with the BBC 

Evening Standard article claiming club is in turmoil 

Nathan Clarke hits back at Evening Standard article 

Andrea Dossena smashes ball into supporters face

Report on bizarre half-time announcement criticising Darius Henderson for turning up late 

Andrea Dossena arrested for stealing honey from Harrods

Alessandro Angelieri blames players at LOFT meeting 

Nathan Clarke admits to BBC off-field problems have affected players 

Liverani on being relegated at Swindon