Barry Hearn claims West Ham United should be petrified after Francesco Becchetti completed his takeover of Leyton Orient.

Hearn sold his stake in the O's to the Italian who is understood to be worth about £500m. The outgoing chairman could not contain his excitement, at this morning's press conference, about the new owner and the potential to challenge their East London rivals. 

Hearn said: "If I was West Ham I would be petrified of this fella. This guy can do anything he wants to do if he has the belief and passion.

"As a fan I don’t think I have been more excited in 20 years about what could happen to this football club. It is what dreams are made of."