Leyton Orient players have been punished for their latest defeat by having to stay in a hotel all week.

Club owner Francesco Becchetti told manager Ian Hendon of his shock decision on the 250-mile coach journey back from Hartlepool following Sunday’s 3-1 loss.

The coach drove straight to the £100-a-night Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey, where the League Two club’s 18 players and six staff members, including Hendon and his assistant Andy Hessenthaler, have been holed up since Sunday evening.

Leyton Orient players Connor Essam, Jack Payne and Sammy Moore (left-right) outside their Essex hotel

Ian Hendon (right) and his assistant Andy Hessenthaler have kept their players at the hotel after a defeat

Midfielder Scott Kashket (left) and Essam stroll through the car park at Waltham Abbey Marriott

Leyton Orient players looks down beat as they concede a third goal against Hartlepool

Leyton Orient's players have been staying in the Marriott Hotel at Waltham Abbey, Essex since Sunday

Players are allowed out in their spare time to visit family but are forced to return to the hotel to eat, sleep and live. It is believed everyone will have to stay there until at least Saturday’s home match against York.

Italian businessman Bechetti is believed to have made the decision in a bizarre attempt to halt Orient’s dramatic slump which has seen them win only once in the last 12 League matches.

Hendon confirmed that everyone had been staying at the hotel since Sunday and told Sportsmail: ‘I wouldn’t want to be the one paying the bill. The owner has had different sporting ventures over the years and he said sometimes it’s good to get together and spend time together. It helps team bonding. When the owner suggested it I thought why not try something different.’

Football operations manager Vito Miceli, football advisor Gianluca Romano and chief executive Alessandro Angelieri are the other members of staff who will be forced to stay at the hotel and it is understood the cost will run into several thousands of pounds.

High-flying Leyton Orient suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by Hartlepool in League Two on Sunday afternoon

Jay Simpson (left) cut a glum figure on Wednesday, while Bradley Pritchard and Clohessy (right) share a joke

Orient owner Francesco Becchetti made the decision following the disappointing defeat

The squad have been travelling together to and from their Chigwell training ground, five minutes drive away, by coach.

It has not yet been decided if they will be allowed home after the York match and Hendon added: ‘If we win four or five-nil the owner might ask us to move here permanently. We’re not trying to hide anything. We’re staying at a hotel. There are plenty of army camps I know about in deepest darkest woods if we wanted to do that.’

Becchetti has history when it comes to unusual decisions, including making the squad train for an extra 10 days when they were relegated from League One at the end of last season.

Fitness coach Craig Smith (centre) laughs with midfielder Moore and Essam outside the hotel

Leyton Orient's players have been forced to stay at a hotel following their 3-1 defeat by Hartlepool on Sunday

The 49-year-old, who bought Orient in July last year, was arrested earlier this month on behalf of authorities in Albania where he is wanted in connection with fraud and money laundering.

Becchetti, who changes from his suit into a club shirt just before kick-off, paid £4million for the club but they had four different managers on their way to relegation last season. Hendon, 43, who worked as a coach at West Ham under Sam Allardyce, was appointed in May.

The League Two club started this season with five straight wins but have dropped to seventh.