Martin Ling named manager of Torquay United

Last updated : 13 June 2011 By westfield shrimper

Ling: New boss at Torquay

Martin Ling: New boss at Torquay United

Blimey, we didn't see this coming.

With players leaving Plainmoor to either join former boss Paul Buckle at Bristol Rovers or more lately last season's League Two team of the season centre-half and Gulls ever present Guy Branston to Bradford City it's a tough act for anyone to follow and take charge of one of the fourth tier's losing play-off semi-finalists.

Step up former Shrimper, Leyton Orient manager, and this campaign sacked by Blue Square Premier team Cambridge United, one Martin Ling, to take up the challenge as the new manager of our Devon based League Two rivals.

Gulls chairman Simon Baker told www.torquayunited.com"As a board, we are delighted to appoint a manager of Martin's experience and background. We were pleased by the calibre of applicants for the role and Martin was the number one choice from this impressive collection of candidates. It is the beginning of an exciting new era at Torquay United and we are proud to have Martin at the helm."

The Gulls finished seventh in League Two last season even after being deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a game against Hereford United, who lost three!

Best of luck Lingy!

From Gulls to Gas: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

Play-Off Final - Stevenage 1 Torquay 0: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

The Ling Files

Personal information
Full name Martin Ling
Date of birth 15 July 1966 (1966-07-15) (age 44)
Place of birth West Ham, London, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1986 Exeter City 117 (14)
1986 Swindon Town 2 (0)
1986–1991 Southend United 136 (30)
1991 → Mansfield Town (loan) 3 (0)
1991–1996 Swindon Town 150 (10)
1996–2000 Leyton Orient 148 (8)
2000 Brighton & Hove Albion 8 (1)
Total   564 (63)
Teams managed
2003–2009 Leyton Orient
2009 Cambridge United
2009–2011 Cambridge United
2011- Torquay United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

(Manager info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Ling)

Top of League Two 2010/11

#TeamPlWDLFAWDLFAWDLFAPtsEP
1 Chesterfield 46 16 3 4 59 31 8 11 4 26 20 24 14 8 85 51 86 +34
2 Bury 46 11 6 6 35 23 12 6 5 47 27 23 12 11 82 50 81 +32
3 Wycombe Wanderers 46 12 6 5 38 25 10 8 5 31 25 22 14 10 69 50 80 +19
 
4 Shrewsbury Town 46 11 9 3 36 18 11 4 8 36 31 22 13 11 72 49 79 +23
5 Accrington Stanley 46 15 5 3 53 24 3 14 6 20 31 18 19 9 73 55 73 +18
6 Stevenage 46 9 11 3 37 24 9 4 10 25 21 18 15 13 62 45 69 +17
7 Torquay United (-1) 46 10 8 5 36 22 7 10 6 38 31 17 18 11 74 53 68 +21
 
8 Gillingham 46 10 7 6 29 24 7 10 6 38 33 17 17 12 67 57 68 +10