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Martin Ling

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Martin Ling
Personal information
Full name Martin Ling
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Cambridge United

Martin Ling (born 15 July 1966) is an English football manager and former player, who is currently manager of Cambridge United in the Football Conference. He played in over 100 league matches for Exeter City, Southend United, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, before moving into management where he led Orient for over five years from 2003 until 2009.

Playing career

Born in West Ham, Greater London, Ling started his career with Exeter City. After a brief spell at Swindon Town in which he made just two appearances, Ling began a five year spell with Southend United in 1986. During this period he won promotion from the Fourth Division twice, in 1987 and 1990. Swindon paid £15,000 to resign Ling in March 1991 where he played 150 league games. As a left-winger, he played in the Swindon side that won promotion to the Premier League (via the Division One playoffs) in 1993.

Following his success at Swindon, Ling joined Leyton Orient who he would later go on to coach and manage. He played over 150 games for Orient before transferring to Brighton and Hove Albion in 2000 for a short period. Later in 2000, Ling rejoined Orient as a coach whilst continuing to play semi-professionally for Purfleet in the Isthmian League until hanging up his boots in September 2001.

Managerial career

Leyton Orient

He was appointed manager of Leyton Orient in December 2003, after a spell as caretaker manager. In the 2005–06 league campaign he guided Orient to automatic promotion from League Two on the final day of the season, and then successfully kept the club in League One in the following season. The following season, Ling was able to bring Leyton Orient to 14th position in League One, after topping the table for three months early in the season. On 18 January 2009, with Leyton Orient in 21st place and in the relegation zone, the decision was taken for Ling and his assistant Dean Smith to leave the club by mutual consent.[1]

After leaving Orient, Ling was hired by Hibernian to set up a network of scouts in England for the Scottish Premier League club, while also identifying players himself.[2] In May 2009, he unsuccessfully applied for the vacant managerial position at Port Vale.[2][3]

Cambridge United

In July 2009, Ling was appointed the manager of Cambridge United in the Conference National, succeeding Gary Brabin who despite a successful first season had left the club due to differences with the club's chairman, George Rolls.[4][5] However, after only eight days at Cambridge, Ling resigned on 4 August 2009 citing irreconcilable differences with Rolls.[6] Cambridge United started the new season under the caretaker stewardship of Paul Carden, but after chairman Rolls left the club on 5 August 2009, Ling said he would be keen to return as manager.[7] On 12 August, sixteen days after his initial appointment, Ling was reappointed as Cambridge manager with Carden as assistant.[8] The Cambridge board praised his honesty, integrity and strength of character during the period between his resignation and reappointment.[8]

After the dramatic off-field start to his Cambridge career, the on-field action started relatively calmly, with Ling guiding the club to 12th after three months of the season, including a 7-0 win over Forest Green Rovers.[9] However, things took a dramatic turn for the worse when the club failed to win a league game between 31 October 2009 and 6 March 2010, which left them in the relegation zone in 21st place.[10] A good end to the season - Cambridge won 9 of the final 14 games - saw Ling guide the club out of the relegation battle to a 10th place finish.[9]

Ling released a number of the 2009–10 squad at the end of that season, including established players such as Danny Potter and Courtney Pitt,[11] and began to rebuild the squad in time for the upcoming season with the signings of a number of players including former Histon players Danny Wright and Danny Naisbitt in May 2010.[12] The signings of Conal Platt,[13] Adam Miller (who reportedly turned down interest from League One sides Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City to join the club),[14][15] and veteran striker Daryl Clare, who arrived for a fee of £10,000, led Ling to claim that his squad was all-but complete.[16]

The season started badly, however, with no win coming until the 6th game, at home to Eastbourne Borough.[17] Despite a short FA Cup run, which ended in a Second Round replay at League One Huddersfield Town following a televised 0-0 at the Abbey, Ling's signings generally struggled on the field.[18][17] After four consecutive losses, including to lowly Hayes & Yeading, the board were forced to issue a vote of confidence in Ling's management.[19] Despite this, the club's poor form continued, leading to growing anger amongst the Cambridge fans at Ling's poor signings and tactical naivety. Following the New Year's Day goalless draw to struggling rivals Histon, there were audible chants of "Ling Out". However Ling refused to quit, stating "they [the fans] can moan all they like, but I’m going nowhere".[20]

Honours

As a Player

As a Manager

Managerial stats

Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Leyton Orient England 27 September 2003 18 January 2009 218 82 62 74 37.61
Cambridge United England 12 August 2009 present 75 26 25 24 33.67

References

  1. ^ "Ling leaves Orient". Sky Sports. 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  2. ^ a b Ling sets sights on Vale job, London 24, 13 May 2009.
  3. ^ Shaw, Steve (May 7, 2009). "Port Vale: Ling applies for manager's job". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  4. ^ "Martin Ling is New U's Manager". Cambridge United. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  5. ^ "Brabin Leaves Cambridge United". Cambridge United. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  6. ^ "Ling resigns as Cambridge manager". BBC Sport. 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  7. ^ "Ling: I'm open to a U's return". Cambridge News. 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  8. ^ a b "Martin Ling Returns". Cambridge United. 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  9. ^ a b "Cambridge United Fixtures and Results 2009/2010". Cambridge United. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  10. ^ "Blue Square Premier - Updated 02/03/2010". Cambridge United. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  11. ^ "Ling Reveals Retained List". Cambridge United. 26 Apil 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Magnificent Seven Commit to U's in Signing Bonanza!". Cambridge United. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  13. ^ "Left Winger Joins U's". Cambridge United. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Midfielder joins U's". Cambridge United. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Miller: Cambridge was my first choice". Cambridge United. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  16. ^ "Clare Completes Switch". Cambridge United. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Cambridge United Fixtures and Results 2010/2011". Cambridge United. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  18. ^ "Huddersfield 2-1 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Cambridge United board backs boss Martin Ling". BBC Sport. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Defiant Ling vows to finish the job". Cambridge First. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

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