THESE past few weeks have probably been more emotionally draining for Leyton Orient fans than at any time in our years of support.

The normal anxieties and anticipation over results on the pitch that we experience on matchdays have been overshadowed by something much more troubling: a fight for the very existence of our club.

The adjournment of the winding-up petition against Orient last Monday merely prolonged that anxiety, as we wait to see if the club’s debts are cleared, if more winding-up orders are received, and if there is any progress on a transfer of ownership from Francesco Becchetti, whose reign has seen such an alarming slump in Orient’s standing, on and off the field.

Our club remains in grave peril.

This has all meant fans have had to think, learn and act fast: holding meetings, raising funds, working out strategies to deal with as many conceivable scenarios as possible, contacting as many people who can help us as we can, from legal and business experts to MPs and councillors.

It’s been difficult and fraught but the response from Orient fans has been amazing: supporters have responded in their droves with passion, commitment, intelligence and expertise to help us find a way out of this mess.

O’s fans have shown that this is a club worth fighting for.

The response we have received from supporters of other clubs all over the UK and beyond has also been overwhelming and humbling, demonstrating the affection that this club is held in and what it means.

If our current chairman thinks it’s just a toy to be thrown away on a whim, then our supporters have demonstrated otherwise in recent weeks.

We at the Leyton Orient Fans Trust (LOFT) are delighted the Guardian Series has thrown its weight behind our campaign, and we need to step up our efforts to make Orient a sustainable, stable and open community football club once more.

It’s our club, and we will not let it die.