Leyton Orient hire Mitchell as director of football
Leyton Orient owner David Gandler said Scott Mitchell is "highly thought of" in football
- Published
Leyton Orient have appointed former Oxford United head of recruitment Scott Mitchell as their new director of football.
The 40-year-old arrives at Brisbane Road after 17 months in his previous role with the U's, who were relegated from the Championship last season and will join the O's in League One for the 2026-27 campaign.
He replaces Martin Ling, who left Orient in March after nine years as director of football.
Mitchell began his playing career at Ipswich Town and also had spells with Scottish side Livingston, Peterborough United and Stevenage before playing non-league football until his retirement.
In 2014, he became Ipswich's head of academy performance analysis and was then promoted to head of academy recruitment three years later.
Mitchell left to become Wycombe Wanderers' head of recruitment in May 2023 before his move to Oxford.
Orient finished 20th in League One and three points above the relegation zone in 2025-26, just one year on from losing the play-off final at Wembley to Charlton Athletic.
"We underperformed significantly last season and, since we secured our League One status on the final day of the campaign, we have conducted a thorough review of our footballing operations," said chairman Nigel Travis.
"We believe that now is the correct time for a new director of football to come in and help drive our footballing departments forward.
"Scott ticks all of our boxes in terms of having experience across the whole sporting side of a football club and has a track record of success."
After speaking to the board of directors and head coach Richie Wellens, Mitchell said it was an "incredibly exciting" time to join the club.
"This club has achieved great success in recent years, but what is clear to me is the desire for more," he said.
"Ultimately, that is why I wanted to take this position. My role will be about laying the foundations to allow the club to achieve more sustainable success in the long term."
Orient owner David Gandler said: "Our long-term goal remains to become a club that can compete sustainably at Championship level and I believe that Scott can have an extremely positive impact on the footballing side of the club."
