Kevin Nolan has stepped down from his position as the player-manager at Leyton Orient, and will continue to serve the O’s as a player only, it was announced on Tuesday.
Nolan had been in the role at Brisbane Road since his appointment in January, having previously trained with the East London outfit, following his release from West Ham United towards the back end of August last year.
Orient, who are sitting 11th in the League Two standings, two-points adrift of the play-off positions in the fourth-tier, have recorded just the solitary point from their last four encounters.
The 33-year-old Liverpudlian had won seven of his 15 games since replacing Ian Hendon at the club in the New Year, but following a home defeat to Barnet on Saturday afternoon, Orient’s Italian owner, Francesco Becchetti has decided to ask Nolan to step down from his duties.
A Leyton Orient Club statement read: “Everyone at the club is fighting hard to make sure we reach the play-offs this season. Whilst that aim remains within reach, we have decided that Kevin should focus entirely on his playing contribution until the end of the season.
“We believe that Kevin will be able to make a bigger impact on the team without the distraction of managerial duties. Andy Hessenthaler, who has been assisting Kevin over the past few months, will take charge of the first team in the interim.”
Hessenthaler is the seventh manager under the ownership of Becchetti, who took a controlling 90% stake at Orient, when he took over from Barry Hearn for £4m in July 2014.
Nolan had been rumoured to be a managerial target for his former side, Bolton Wanderers, however recently appointed chairman Ken Anderson revealed that the former club captain had not applied for the vacant managerial post at the recently relegated Trotters, who will ply their trade in League One next season.
