Leyton Orient have confirmed that Andy Hessenthaler has been ‘been relieved of his role’ as O’s boss. The official statement from the club’s website reads:

The club can confirm that Andy Hessenthaler has been relieved of his role as first team manager.We would like to thank Andy for his service to Leyton Orient since arriving in July 2015 and wish him well in his future career.Assistant manager Andy Edwards will be assuming Hessenthaler’s duties on an interim basis and will take charge of the team for tomorrow’s night’s Sky Bet League Two home game with Plymouth Argyle.

Read more at http://www.leytonorient.com/news/article/2016-17/hessenthaler-departs-orient-3329205.aspx#65ru0dOJSmU8Xt0e.99

 

Hessenthaler has the dubious honour of becoming the first manager of an English football league club to be sacked this season and he is the fifth Orient manager to be sacked by Francesco Becchetti since he bought the club in the summer of 2014.

Andy Hessenthaler joined the O’s in the summer of 2015 as Ian Hendon’s assistant and he retained that post when Kevin Nolan replaced Hendon in the dugout.

The former Gillingham boss then ended last season as caretaker manager following Nolan’s departure in April.

After conducting the interview process for a permanent replacement for Nolan, Francesco Becchetti gave Hessenthaler the job back in June.

The 51-year-old rebuilt the Orient squad over the summer, however consecutive defeats against Yeovil and Notts County proved to be costly and Hessenthaler has now been dismissed.

Overall, Hessenthaler has a record of 16 games, seven wins, two draw and 7 defeats as Leyton Orient manager, giving him a win percentage of 43.75%.

Hessenthaler was infamously kicked by Francesco Becchetti following Orient’s home win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day last year. There has also been much speculation over the extent of the president’s involvement in the managing of the team, with Hessenthaler admitting that there was a committee involved in team selection and that the committee included Becchetti.

Hessenthaler’s assistant Andy Edwards will take charge of the first team while the selection process is ongoing. Edwards’ first game in charge will be the home fixture against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow night.