Ian Hendon has been named the new assistant manager at Gillingham.

Hendon (pictured) joins as Andy Hessenthaler’s new right-hand man just 18 days after taking charge at Crabble.

Hessenthaler himself had left Dover to join the Gills as their new manager alongside Mark Robson, who was named number two.

Robson, however, never put pen to paper on a deal and left the club just days later citing “personal reasons” for his departure.

It left a hole to fill and Gills’ new boss moved for his friend Hendon, who had got the job at Dover, largely due to references supplied by Hessenthaler.

Hendon, who had yet to sign his deal with Dover because he was on holiday, announced the news to Whites chairman Jim Parmenter during a meeting, which was arranged apparently to discuss new signings.

An angry Parmenter told doverathletic.com: “we had a meeting where he told me: ‘You’re not going to like this, but I’ve been offered a job at Gillingham so I’m leaving.’

“I was stunned, shocked and upset.”

Dover’s assistant manager Darren Hare also left the club in the wake of Hessenthaler’s exit to become the head of youth at Priestfield.

“As far as I’m concerned, a line has been crossed,” Mr Parmenter added.

The two teams are due to meet in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 24 at Crabble.

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