Andy Hessenthaler: There is too much interference at Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient caretaker Andy Hessenthaler gives instructions from the touchline at Yeovil Town (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
O’s caretaker believes Ian Hendon or Kevin Nolan could have got club into play-offs if they’d been given time
Leyton Orient president Francesco Becchetti watches on at Barnet (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Leyton Orient caretaker Andy Hessenthaler believes there is too much interference by president Francesco Becchetti at the club.
The 50-year-old watched the O’s end their League Two campaign with a 1-0 win at Yeovil Town on Saturday. Ollie Palmer’s 87th minute strike gave the visitors all three points and ensured they finished in eighth position.
It has been a strange season for the Brisbane Road outfit, however, with three people in charge of the first team throughout the year.
“We need to be able to do our job. I have played quite a few games in my career and managed at Championship level as well as coached. That is what we are there to do and that’s what we need to get on with,” said Hessenthaler.
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“I think there is too much interference to be honest. We need to be able to get on with our jobs.”
Despite that, the former Gillingham boss is unsure whether he will be involved in meetings set to take place this week regarding players out of contract at the club.
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The likes of Mathieu Baudry, Jobi McAnuff and Lloyd James are among those that could depart in the summer. Hessenthaler added: “I’m not sure if I’ll have any input in player contracts, I honestly don’t know.
“I think it is a really difficult situation when you haven’t got a manager in place on what players are staying and what players need to come in. Whether I’m in that meeting we will wait and see.”
After coming in last summer alongside Ian Hendon as assistant manager, it has been a testing campaign for Hessenthaler.
He has watched Hendon lose his job and Kevin Nolan come in, impress before also having his managerial duties taken away from him.
Becchetti put Hessenthaler in caretaker charge for the final five games of the campaign, but he couldn’t help them finish in the top seven.
When asked if he felt Hendon or Nolan could have got Orient into the play-offs this season had they been given time, he replied: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“I think Kevin did have great ideas, we just went on a bit of a sticky run, but we were just two points outside the play-offs with five games to go.
“We had an opportunity to still get in there and Ian was two points outside the play-offs with 20 games to go.
“The owner is the owner of the football club, he makes the decisions and he feels it is in the best interest of the club - that is how it is.
“We were unlucky in terms of missing out, well actually I don’t think we were. We weren’t good enough. You need to be good enough over 46 games.”