Andy Hessenthaler says Leyton Orient would have reached the play-offs if they had stuck with their managers instead of chopping and changing this season.

He says either Ian Hendon or Kevin Nolan would have taken them there if the club’s owners had not pressed the ejector seat after disappointing runs.

But with both being relieved of their managerial duties, the O’s finished eighth, one place and six points adrift of the play-offs.

When asked what the club needs to be successful and realise its potential, Hessenthaler said: “Stability.”

Hessenthaler, who has guided the O’s to back-to-back end of season wins as interim boss, is unlikely to put his hat into the ring for the managerial vacancy at Brisbane Road.

He has a year left on his assistant manager’s contract but says there is too much interference from the club’s owner Francesco Becchetti to make it likely that he would put his hat in the ring for the job full time.

When pushed on what would have to change to make him interested in the job, he replied: “We need to be able to do our job. I’ve played quite a few games in my career and managed at Championship level as well as coached. That’s what we’re here to do and that’s what we need to get on with.”

Asked directly if he thinks there is too much interference, he said: “I think so to be honest, yeah. We need to be able to get on with our jobs.”

The owner has a say in team selection, with the side being picked by a selection committee, and Becchetti has been quick to hire and fire as well.

When asked if he felt Hendon or Nolan could have got Orient into the play-offs this season had they been given time, Hessenthaler 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.”

Hessenthaler doesn’t know if he will be involved in the contract talks with the likes of Mathieu Baudry, Jobi McAnuff and Lloyd James whose deals expire this summer.

But he is urging the club to make quick decisions or risk players leaving and also seeing potential replacements go elsewhere because of the uncertainty at Brisbane Road.

He said: “When I came into the club last year there were some good players that left it that Ian [Hendon] and myself would have liked to have kept but the players can’t wait forever and we lost out on certain players. So let’s hope that’s not the case again.”

He 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.”

It was the owners who were responsible for signing up young professionals Sam Sargeant and Aron Pollock last week and both featured in Saturday’s 1-0 win away at Yeovil Town which brought the curtain down on a turbulent season.

The fans were boosted by the return from injury of striker Paul McCallum after he was brought on in the 73rd minute.

The former West Ham United forward joined last summer but he was sidelined after a cruciate ligament injury in September.

Hessenthaler said: “It was another positive to get Paul McCallum back. It was always in our mind that we could get him on for 20 minutes and it was great to see him back on the pitch.”

McCallum will be joined in the squad by long-term injury victim Dean Cox next season and the pair will be significant assets.