MP John Cryer believes it would be akin to “losing a national treasure” if troubled Leyton Orient cease to exist. 

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian Series, the Leyton and Wanstead MP called for the FA to “grow a backbone” and take on rogue club owners.

His comments follow a nail-biting week for O’s fans, where the club narrowly avoided entering administration after the High Court allowed more time for it to pay a string of creditors last Monday.

Mr Cryer said: “It would be a tragedy if Orient was to go. It would punch a hole in the community- it is the second oldest club in London.

“It is unthinkable losing something like that, it is like losing a national treasure.

“It is an integral part of the community, you get generations that follow the club, some people who were born there and moved away still come back for matchdays with their families.”

The MP tabled an Early Day Motion earlier this month, calling for a “fit and proper person test” for football club owners in the wake of Orient’s plight.

But, he has also called on the FA to do more in cracking down on owners of clubs struggling with financial problems.

“The Football Association is going to have to develop a backbone and wake up to the fact things are not only about the Premier League in this country.” Mr Cryer said.

“There is a whole world outside the Premier League.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Mr Cryer had words of praise for former O's owner Barry Hearn (pic: Reuters)

Orient were handed a stay of execution by the High Court last week at a hearing called 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.

The club owes around £35,000 to Waltham Forest council, £18,000 to Central Circle Events Management Ltd, which provides matchday stewards, and £6,000 to its official photographer.

Orient were granted a reprieve until June 12, by which time the court expects Mr Becchetti to have either paid off the debts or sold the club.

If not, the Brisbane Road side risk being liquidated.

Mr Cryer said the club would be in safer hands under the stewardship of an owner who “wanted the club to do well”, praising former O’s owner Barry Hearn.

He added: “I think Barry Hearn actually wanted the club to do well, he put a lot of years and money into it and I always found him reasonable to deal with.

“The best thing would be to get someone to buy the club who genuinely wants it to do well, someone like Barry Hearn.”