Leyton Orient chief executive Matt Porter has been elected to serve on the board of The Football League.

He takes up the role of League 1 representative after Carlisle United managing director John Nixon stepped down following the club’s relegation to League 2.

Porter joined Leyton Orient in 2001 as press officer, a role which he occupied for five years before being made the youngest chief executive in English football by O’s chairman Barry Hearn in the summer of 2006, aged just 26.

His appointment as chief executive coincided with the club’s promotion to League 1 and he has overseen their progression to an established side in the division which included narrowly missing out on promotion last season. He is also the chief executive of the Professional Darts Corporation.

Porter will represent the 24 clubs of League 1 along with Notts County chief executive James Rodwell who was elected to the Board last year. They will serve alongside chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Shaun Harvey, independent non-executive director Richard Bowker, Championship directors Andy Ambler (Millwall), Keith Lamb (Middlesbrough), Karl Oyston (Blackpool) and League 2 director Ian Lenagan (Oxford United).

Chairman of The Football League Greg Clarke said: “I’m delighted to welcome Matt to the board of the Football League. His successful stewardship of Leyton Orient as well as his experience with other professional sports will prove a great addition to the board. I look forward to working with him.”

Porter said: “I am delighted to take up this position and look forward to serving League 1 to the best of my abilities.

"Further to the club’s announcement regarding its potential change of ownership, it has been confirmed that I will continue as a director of the club therefore enabling me to fulfil my duties to the Football League Board.”