New Orient player-boss Kevin Nolan admits having the chance to move into management persuaded him to join the O's after turning down an offer earlier this season.

Former head coach Ian Hendon tried to sign Nolan at the end of last year, after he spent three months training with Orient, but the ex-Hammers captain opted not to sign.

But the 33-year-old was unveiled this week as the shock replacement for Hendon in a two and a half year deal. 

Nolan said: "We were talking and we got to a point where I thought I could possibly get a higher team and that was the basic be all and end all. I thought I could play higher and still do think that.

"But as you say when the opportunity of managing this club came along it put another spin on it. To me it's a challenge which I've never been shy of and I think that was probably the tipping point."

Nolan will work closely with assistant boss Andy Hessanthaler but confirmed long serving coach Kevin Nugent has decided to leave.

He continued: "I'm just pleased we've got it over the line and I'm now the manager as well as being able to play when I can and when the coaches tell me I am good enough to play.

"They're going to be used as my support team and I'm looking to bring someone in but maybe in a couple of weeks. It's something I've got to look at. It possibly was the fact the manager thing which got it over the line. 

"You only have to look around. It's such a great club. As my 100 odd messages and 400 missed calls will tell you everyone knows about Leyton Orient.

"It's the second team to everyone in London. But what I and Francesco [Becchetti] want to do is bring success to the club and fill this ground week in week out. That's my aim."