A SENIOR Tory MP is throwing his weight behind a campaign to save Leyton Orient.

The MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, Iain Duncan Smith, told the Guardian he supports the fans’ fight to save London’s second oldest club.

Mr Duncan Smith’s comments follows an intense week for the club, which avoided entering administration after the High Court gave it until June to pay its creditors last Monday.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “Leyton Orient has a historic place in the borough. It really is a local jewel in the borough’s life and needs to be preserved.

“I am old enough to remember when, in 1962, the club got promoted to the first division and I am sad to see it fighting for its place in the league in its current situation.”

The Conservative also said he will support John Cryer’s Early Day Motion, calling for a “fit and proper person test” for football club owners in the wake of Orient’s plight.

The Leyton and Wanstead MP told the Guardian yesterday he thinks losing Orient would be akin to “losing a national treasure”.

He also called on the FA to do more in cracking down on owners of clubs struggling with financial problems.

Echoing Mr Cryer’s concerns, Mr Duncan Smith added: “This historic club must find a new buyer soon.

“I am therefore glad to see the support being offered by the Guardian and others to the fan’s campaign to save their club and find the right owner to secure its future.

“This is a worthy cause.”

At a High Court hearing last week Orient were handed a stay of execution over an unpaid tax bill believed to be in the region of £125,000 and £250,000.

The court heard O’s owner Francesco Becchetti had settled the debt with HMRC, but the club had several other creditors.

Mr Becchetti now has until June 12 to sell off the League Two club or pay off its debts.

If he fails to do both, the Brisbane Road side risk being liquidated.