Andy Hessenthaler leaves Gillingham this week insisting his love for the club is as strong as ever.

Hessenthaler agreed to a termination of his contract with the Gills on Tuesday, after meeting with club chairman Paul Scally.

A year ago he was in a similar position, after Mr Scally relieved him of his role as manager, two years into a three-year deal.

“I have such a long affiliation with the football club and I have had a wonderful time here,” said Hessenthaler, who spent last year working as director of football.

“There have been highs and lows but the majority have been highs. I had a good conversation with the chairman and I think it is best for everybody, including myself, to move on now.

“It’s a fresh challenge as they say and that’s what I am looking for and we will see where we go.

“It was a mutual decision. Like the chairman said in his statement, he approached me earlier in the season and a couple of clubs made contact with him, asking to speak to me and he said he would like me to stay as we had a job to do at Gillingham. At the time, I was really enjoying what I was doing. Obviously our aim was to get promoted as a football club and we did that.

“The time is right now (to go). I do miss the management side of it, the training side of it, especially the coaching side of it and being out on the training ground, I miss that. Ultimately that is what it has come down to more than anything.

“The chairman and I are friends. We have worked together and he’s been my boss but he is also my friend and we will always be friends. It’s a sad day because I am leaving but I leave on a high because the club has achieved so much this year and I feel part of that.

“Obviously I am disappointed that I didn’t carry the journey on last season as manager but because I have got so much respect for the chairman we did what we did.

“There are no hard feelings and I never will have at this football club. I leave on good terms and I will be in constant contact with the chairman over the weeks to come. We speak regularly about football, and life, and we will always have a good relationship.”

Hessenthaler spent two seasons as manager at the Gills, in his second spell, as he attempted to pull the club out of League 2. He wasn’t able to complete the task but feels the foundations he laid helped the current side to success under Martin Allen.

“It has been a great year and even more so because we have achieved what we set out to and that was to get promotion,” said the 47-year-old.

“To be champions was absolutely fantastic. Martin has done a fantastic job.

“Obviously I brought the basis of the squad to the club, when I came back for two years, and for me I got a lot of satisfaction out of watching the boys this year.

“The likes of Matt Fish, Joe Martin, Danny Kedwell and Adam Birchall, as he came back after injury, along with Charlie Lee and Chris Wheldpale and the players coming through like Bradley Dack and Callum Davies. For them to be part of a championship-winning team was massive satisfaction for myself.

“Martin has added other players, in the summer, and when the chairman and myself interviewed him we said we were not far off being a really good side.

“Martin brought his own philosophy to the club and his own style and players and along with me, behind the scenes. I did stuff with Martin, identifying players, speaking with them and doing contracts and it was enjoyable but ultimately I love being out on the training ground and involved in coaching.

“I have had a good year, it’s another position on my CV that I have explored and enjoyed and now it is time for myself to look for another challenge.”