THE year 2004 was a rollercoaster ride at Priestfield.

It started with Gillingham toppling Premiership opposition in the FA Cup and ended with the resignation of Andy Hessenthaler as the Gills found themselves dangerously close to relegation.

But now Hessenthaler has begun his career away from the club with his loan move to League 1 side Hull City.

In four seasons as Gillingham's manager, Andy Hessenthaler brought unparalleled success to the club.

But now the former boss is taking his skills elsewhere and bringing the curtain down on his nine-year association with the Gills.

Hessenthaler freely admits he is looking to become a manager once again, adding it has been a difficult transition from being a manager to just being a player again.

He said: "It's hard. It's been difficult and the new manager appreciates that. It's been difficult for the players as well, which is understandable. They're just starting to come to terms with it.

"At times I haven't played, which is fine because I've been injured. But when you're not playing, or managing, or coaching, basically you're doing nothing and I'm not that type of person.

"I want to earn my money and at that time I didn't feel I was earning my money. But I came back and played in a few games. I didn't play at the weekend because I had a slight calf problem.

"I resigned because I felt the players needed a new voice and over the last few weeks it's started to work a little bit."

Hessenthaler made the decision to step down after the 4-1 defeat to Crewe and admitted he did it for the good of the club.

He added: "I was so frustrated because we played quite well and we could have been three goals up before they even scored.

"I went home and decided to do what I did. The over-riding factor was that I didn't want to see this club go down.

"We worked too hard to come as far as we have and I thought maybe the players had maybe had enough of me as manager after four-and-a-half years.

"Maybe they needed someone else with more ideas to turn it around. The new man has come in and has brought some new ideas and has done very well.

"I have applied for a few jobs. Cambridge were very interested in me going there. I wasn't offered the job – they wanted to talk to me – but I didn't in the end.

"I was interested in the big jobs that came up at Coventry and Nottingham Forest but knew deep down probably with people like Micky Adams and Gary Megson interested it was going to be very difficult for me to get the job."