SAM ALLARDYCE is ready to embrace a radical reversal when he retires from frontline management – by becoming Kevin Nolan’s right-hand man.

Nolan was appointed as the new player-manager at League Two side Leyton Orient yesterday, having signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the Matchroom Stadium.

The former Newcastle United captain played under Allardyce at both Bolton and West Ham, and the pair remain close friends.

Allardyce was always convinced Nolan, who was been without a club since leaving Upton Park in the summer, would move into management, and has not ruled out the pair working together again at some stage in the future.

“When I retire from doing the frontline job, and if Kevin is still in management and wants me to help him, I would gladly go and help him out, if I’m not working at this level,” said the Sunderland boss. “Not just now, though.

“I think everyone thought Kevin would be a manager one day, but I think it’s happened without him really thinking about it.

“Now he’s accepted it he has to learn extremely quickly. He needs a right-hand man he can trust so he can do a lot of the other side and focus on managing the team on the field.”

Nolan has taken over a Leyton Orient side who have won just four of their last 21 league matches, and has immediately been charged with the task of leading his new side to the play-offs.

Allardyce has warned the midfielder to expect a challenging introduction to life as a manager, but feels his continued involvement as a player will help smooth the transition.

“I went to Limerick as player-manager and managed more on the field than off it,” he said. “That’s a great asset to have in your first job because you can affect everything on the pitch.

“You can’t affect anything from the touchline until you put a sub on or get to half-time, but he can manage a situation as it happens on the pitch. If he can also score the goals that we know he can, then it will be good for Orient and good for him.”