Ex-Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City man lands new coaching role days after sacking
His new role comes just days after leaving another EFL side.
Preston North End legend and former midfielder Paul Gallagher has secured a new coaching role.
Gallagher has joined Richie Wellens’ backroom staff at League One side Leyton Orient, taking up the role of first-team coach. The pair played together at Leicester City between 2009 and 2013.
The 41-year-old, who scored 44 goals in 313 appearances for the Lilywhites, joined League Two outfit Barrow in January in his first role as a head coach. He recently departed the club after just five games in charge - all of those defeats.
He was replaced by Dino Maamria, formerly a coach at North End under Graham Westley. Gallagher’s tenure started with a 3-1 loss at Crewe Alexandra, before a 0-1 at home to Crawley. Defeats to Swindon, Notts County and Shrewsbury followed.
Leyton Orient currently sit 22nd in League One, a point away from safety. The O’s 2025/26 campaign has played out in stark contrast to the previous one, where they made it to the play-off final, before losing 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.
Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens:
“I’m really pleased to welcome Paul to the club,” said Wellens. “He is someone that I know well from my playing career and has always been very knowledgeable of the game. I knew he would go into coaching after he finished playing and he has gained some really good experience as a first team coach at Preston and Stoke – where he has worked under some very experienced managers.
“His spell at Barrow earlier this season is also something that he has taken a lot from. Paul’s voice around the training ground and changing room will bring a lot to us and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Gallagher said: “The gaffer is someone I know really well and hopefully I can come in and help the club. I’ve always had an appetite to coach; I coached Preston’s U16s when I was still playing and managed a Central League team too. I’ve always seen the game from a coach’s point of view and that helps me now.
“I like to be detailed and give clarity to the players as well as giving them freedom to express themselves and be positive. I like to look at the emotional intelligence of players, too, and understand what they need to allow them to perform at their best. We have some very talented players here, we need to keep believing and I’m sure we can start winning games.”