Barrow edge closer to safety ahead of their trip to play-off chasing Leyton Orient

While it looks increasingly likely that both Leyton Orient and Barrow will remain in League Two, they could be two divisions apart by the start of next season.

The O’s have drifted along in mid-table for most of the season, but a 3-1 home defeat to Tranmere saw Ross Embleton sacked as manager the following day. Club legend Jobi McAnuff was installed as interim player-manager and has seen a drastic upturn in results that have seen his side edge closer to the play-off places.

Despite sitting 11th in the table, Orient are just four points off Forest Green in the last play-off spot with five games left to play. While a shock top seven finish isn’t out of the question, recent results against Cheltenham and Harrogate have severely damaged their hopes of earning promotion to League One this season.

McAnuff now needs to prove that he’s the right man to lead the O’s forward, as a place in the play-offs will be the aim for his side next season.

Of course, questions will remain as to how long the 39-year-old will continue his playing career, although the results achieved during his time in charge indicate that he will likely be given the opportunity to manage the East London side next season.

The same can largely be said of Barrow, although the Bluebirds find themselves at the opposite end of the table. Despite being stuck in a tense relegation battle for most of the season, it looks as if they have accrued enough points to keep their place in League Two.

The Cumbrian outfit’s recent win over promotion-hunting Exeter has seen them climb above Mansfield into 20th, forging a nine-point gap between them and Southend in the last relegation spot. Safety isn’t yet guaranteed, but much like Orient, Barrow’s aim will be to build for an improved campaign next season.

The Bluebirds’ record of chopping and changing managers has arguably hindered their progress, with four different men having taken charge at Holker Street since July 2020.

Rob Kelly is now in his second caretaker spell in charge of the club, having replaced Michael Jolley in February, although an improved run of results could see him given the job on a permanent basis.

On paper, this could be considered a dead rubber game, even though both sides have yet to mathematically guarantee their place in League Two next season. In fact, there’s a lot on the line, with both managers looking to prove that they should be given the opportunity to take charge of their respective teams on a permanent basis.

Saturday’s lunchtime clash at the Breyer Group Stadium will put the two most recent National League title winners against each other. Both clubs are in the midst of a long-term project to rise up the Football League, although they find themselves at very different stages of that journey.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt