Martin ling

[supergulls]

Martin is returning to his role and is due back at the club in 2 weeks.

[hector]

Seriously? Can't see it, myself.

[Yellow4life]

Returning in 2 weeks- when everyone is abroad? Where is he going back to- Dubai? ... I'm guessing to sort contracts out more like!

[supergulls]

Ok we will see, the conversation I had with him yesterday was that he is raring to go and cannot wait to get back. He wanted to return earlier but the board insisted that he rested until the season finishes. He will be returning after the final game but he will be sorting out the players contracts and making preparations for the new season.

[tktufc91]

Was kinda hoping (in the nicest way possible) that Martin wouldn't be returning. Don't get me wrong, he has done an amazing job at Torquay getting us into the play-offs after the PO final defeat, but Alan Knill has impressed me and clearly given the players some new belief when it seemed that we would plummet out of the league.

We may not be playing the best football, but it is a lot better than what we were playing like with Martin at the helm this season. Before Martin went, everything that happened last season (winning 1-0 and absorbing the pressure) just hasn't happened this season. We looked like we had no plan B and unlike Knill, Martin didn't want to dip into the loan market. With the loan signings we got, we have pushed on and got ourselves (almost) out of the mess we were in.

Whoever is in charge though, I will support them 100%.

[supergulls]

The board wouldn't let Martin bring in anymore players on loan or permanent. He asked in December but was refused.

[Kernowgull]

Maybe so, but he still played really dull, uninspiring football, with exactly the same squad available to him as we have used in the last two games (minus Benyon, who we bought in when Taylor was in charge). Try and win games and you might.

[PlainmoorRoar]

Probably because we cant afford to pay him off

Everyone knows why he went awol and 'ill' -

Would be a disastrous move to bring him back

[Gullscorer]

Probably because we cant afford to pay him off

Everyone knows why he went awol and 'ill' -

Would be a disastrous move to bring him back

NOT a ...!!

[SteveDeckchair]

Not exactly overjoyed at this if it is true. I am firmly in the camp that Alan Knill should be offered the job and I think many fans feel the same. Certainly the ones I speak to anyway.

I just feel that our association with Martin Ling has run its course and it would be a step backwards for the club.

[Trojan 67]

What the current board lacks is experience in sacking managers. If (it should be when) it gains this experience, action to remedy an urgent and dire situation will be brutal and swift. Lessons from this season need to be learnt and learnt quick.

[Southampton Gull]

Good news as far as I'm concerned.

All the Board have to do now is offer him the same tools they offered Knill.

[taunton_gull]

As has been seen already this news is likely to split opinion amongst fans - I for one am far from happy about it (if true). Purely from a football point of view - in the last two games we have scored 3 and 2 goals respectively. Does anyone think we would have kept our noses in front with Ling's tactics on Tuesday night? I am sure we wouldn't have ended up so close to the drop zone had he not been taken ill but performances against the likes of Wimbledon and Harrogate gave me grave cause for concern. Sure, Knill has brought in Labadie and Chappel but Benyon has been the only regular new player since Ling departed. And yet, under Knill the team and dare I say the club has been completely freshened up. I know ranting and raving doesn't make a good manager but there is an energy under Knill which was completely lacking under ML - neither he or Taylor looked interested for long periods. I don't feel ML is the right character for our club. There has been much speculation about why he went sick but what has changed which means he can now come back?

For the first time in a long time it seemed things have been on the up and touch wood we have nearly secured our league status having looked like we were doomed. This news will take the shine off it for me because I will then worry about what's to come. Were we to get away with it on Saturday I would have hoped the board has learned some valuable lessons. But without someone with real experience or a director of football I fear they might make the same mistakes again. I don't know the ins and outs or the financial situation, but if true I find this news deeply concerning.

[yellow]

(SG)

It is the board that made ML’s job so difficult.

AK has overseen a couple of streaky wins and is now hailed as some sort of Messiah. Get real people.

[Gullscorer]

I agree with Dave and Yellow. Martin Ling has been ill, he is not a bad manager. He deserves our sympathy and respect. If he's back to full healh and fitness we should thank Alan Knill for all he has done and give Martin all our support for next season. Unlikely I dare say, but if Alan Knill could continue to be connected with the club in some capacity, so much the better.