Andy Hessenthaler has left Gillingham to take over as assistant manager at Leyton Orient.

Hessenthaler, 49, will be no.2 to former Gills coach Ian Hendon and has agreed a two-year deal with the League 2 side.

He leaves a club where he earned hero status as a player, before taking over as manager and guiding the side to their highest finish in the Football League.

Hessenthaler said: “This was an incredibly difficult decision as I’ve had a 20-year relationship with Gillingham and I love the football club.

“However, I felt it’s a fresh challenge for me. I’ll be working with Ian again who I’ve spent time with in the past and I look forward to what lies ahead.”

Hessenthaler’s first spell as manager ended in resignation as the Gills spiralled towards relegation from English football’s second tier.

After a highly successful spell at Dover Athletic, Hessenthaler returned to the Gills as manager to try and lift them out of League 2. But after two seasons he was removed from his position after missing out on a play-off position on both occasions.

He spent time under Martin Allen’s Priestfield tenure as director of football and then took over as assistant manager under Peter Taylor’s reign.

Hessenthaler was on the interview panel when the club decided to employ Justin Edinburgh as manager early this year and remained as assistant manager.

“I’m disappointed to be cutting short my working relationship with Justin,” Hessenthaler said.

“He’s been fantastic since he walked through the door and he’s definitely the right person to take this club forward.

“We’ve become close friends and I wish him, and everybody at the club, the very best of luck.”

Edinburgh will now be on the look-out for a new assistant manager.

His no.2 at former club Newport County, Jimmy Dack, is no longer available after already joining Crawley Town as assistant manager.

Edinburgh, speaking on the Gills website, said: “I’m sad to see Andy go but I understand his decision and I can only offer him success in his new role.

“He’s been excellent since I arrived at the club in February, we’ve worked very well together and I’m sure everyone will be as grateful for his efforts as I am, and wish him well in the challenge that he now takes on.”