Leyton Orient have appointed Scott Mitchell as their new director of football. The 40-year-old former Ipswich Town youngster arrives at Brisbane Road after previously working as head of recruitment at Oxford United. He replaces Martin Ling, who left Orient in March after nine years as director of football. Mitchell will work closely with manager Richie Wellens, who saw the team finish 20th in the third tier and three points above the relegation zone in 2025-26. Ely-born Mitchell came through the youth ranks at Portman Road, making four senior appearances for Town under Joe Royle in the mid 2000s. He had spells with Scottish side Livingston, Peterborough United, and Stevenage before playing non-league football until his retirement. Mitchell returned to Ipswich Town as an academy coach in 2012 and later took on a head of academy performance analysis role. He was then promoted to head of academy recruitment before leaving to become Wycombe Wanderers' head of recruitment in May 2023. Mitchell said he is excited to join Leyton Orient and help the club achieve more sustainable success in the long term. His role will focus on laying the foundations for the club's footballing departments to grow, including recruitment, developing a high-performance environment, and academy pathway. Mitchell's experience will be invaluable in helping the club move forward. He will work closely with Wellens to identify and recruit new talent. The appointment is a significant move for Leyton Orient as they look to improve their performance in League One. Mitchell's knowledge of the league and his experience in recruitment will be crucial in helping the club achieve their goals. The fans will be hoping that Mitchell's appointment will bring a new era of success to the club.