Barry Hearn to offer free Leyton Orient season tickets

Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has revealed that he will give away 1,500 free season tickets to young people and students in order to create a new generation of Orient fans.

Hearn said that he was also going to fight the legal battle in his attempt to win a groundshare deal with West Ham United for the Olympic Stadium.

"I'm proud to announce this initiative that I hope will be the dawning of a new era for this football club, PA Sport quotes Hearn as saying. "Leyton Orient has been and always will be a real community club that continues to fight our corner despite being the underdog when you look at our neighbours and the threats we face.

"We will continue to fight the decision to deny us the opportunity to move to the Olympic Stadium, but we will fight it in our own backyard and will not be squeezed out.

"A free season ticket provides someone the chance to not only come down and stand up for their local club but also to most importantly watch some exciting football and develop a lifelong affiliation with the club."

Orient are currently ninth in League One.