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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Managerial career

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]

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 nine 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]

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a Player

• 1986–87: Division Four 3rd (promotion to Division Three) - Southend United
• 1989–90: Division Four 3rd (promotion to Division Three) - Southend United
• 1992–93: Division One Playoff Winner (promotion to Premiership) - Swindon Town
• 1995–96: Division Two Champion (promotion to Division One) - Swindon Town

[edit] As a Manager

• 2005–06: League Two 3rd (promotion to League One) - Leyton Orient

[edit] Managerial stats

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Leyton Orient		27 September 2003	18 January 2009	218	82	62	74	37.61
Cambridge United		12 August 2009	present	29	6	6	5	35.29

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Martin Ling career stats at Soccerbase
• Martin Ling management career stats at Soccerbase