Andy Hessenthaler's three-month loan move from Gillingham to Hull ranks as one of the more bizarre transfers of the season.
The 39-year-old started the season in charge at Gillingham - his fifth as player-manager with the Kent club.
Yet with the final stretch of the campaign in sight, he finds himself pushing for promotion and with a game against leaders Luton at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
Gillingham's first three seasons under Hessenthaler had led to the Kent club improving on their previous year's position.
But eventually the challenge of continually improving in the Championship on a meagre budget started to take its toll.
The Gills just avoided the drop at the end of the 2003-04 campaign but after a difficult start to the current season Hessenthaler stood down as manager in November.
Hessenthaler - recently voted the best player in Gillingham's history in a BBC Kent poll - continued to play for the club before a phone call from close friend and Hull manager Peter Taylor.
"It is probably strange to people that a 39-year-old is going out on loan but I'm settling in well," said Hessenthaler.
"I didn't think anything like this would come about.
"It came out of the blue - Peter phoned me and asked if I would come on loan for the rest of the season.
 |  I know what promotion is all about and hopefully my experience can help the lads |
"There are pressures at both ends of the table but to come here with the team pushing for promotion is a better kind of pressure.
"Hull have got a very good chance of winning promotion and I would like to be a part of that."
It did not take long for Hessenthaler to realise the potential at Hull - a club that has for so long languished in the doldrums but is now on the threshold of back-to-back promotions.
"The support they have is absolutely fantastic and they have a great stadium so they are going the right way," he added.
"The club is a sleeping giant. I've never known anything like it - wherever you go there are Hull shirts.
"Where I have come from you get the odd Gillingham shirt but most are Manchester United or Chelsea shirts - not here."
But before the celebrations can begin, Hull must survive a test of nerve.
The Tigers have 16 games left and their current form leaves much to be desired.
They have drawn three of their last four League matches and have not won since 3 January.
 Hessenthaler has played for Taylor at Gillingham and Hull |
Hessenthaler, who has made more than 500 first-team appearances during his career, is hoping his vast experience will smooth Hull's passage.
"I have won promotion with Peter before when Gillingham went up into the Championship," he said.
"I know what it is all about - it is about staying calm and seeing it through and hopefully my experience can help the lads.
"I feel the players here are good enough to win promotion it is about the mental strength at the death.
"To go to Luton and get three points will give us the lift psychologically that we need to push on."
And what does the future hold for Hessenthaler - the evergreen veteran who finds himself exclusively a player once more?
"It was very difficult taking to the field as a player-manager and I have got aspirations to get back solely as a manager," he admitted.
"But people say you are a long time retired and I've got another two years under contract at Gillingham.
"I'll even talk to Peter about the situation because he is somebody I trust and believe in. We'll have to wait and see."
MMIX
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