Ling ‘would think’ about getting back into management
Martin Ling, Errol McKellar and Barry Hearn are all smiles ahead of the charity match for Prostate Cancer UK (pic: Sarah Lines/Prostate Cancer UK). - Credit: Archant
Former O’s player and manager discusses management return and the possibility of becoming Ian Hendon’s number two
Former Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling returned to Brisbane Road on Sunday for Errol McKellar’s charity match in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, but won’t be becoming Ian Hendon’s assistant manager.
He is, however, tempted to be a manager again but insisted it isn’t something he needs to do.
Former O’s captain Hendon was appointed as head coach last week and has an idea about who he would like to become his number two at the club.
That person hasn’t yet be revealed but when asked about whether he would be interested, Ling admitted it would be impossible.
You may also want to watch:
“No becoming assistant wouldn’t interest me and not because I wouldn’t want to come back but because I wouldn’t want to come back to any club and be an assistant manager,” said the 48-year-old, who guided Orient to their first automatic promotion in 36 years during the 2005/06 season.
“I am very set-up with what I am doing at the moment and if the offer to become manager someone else other than Orient come along I would think about it.
Most Read
- 1 The Queen lends her name to Royal London’s emergency Covid wards
- 2 Death of woman, 75, in Mile End fire could have been avoided
- 3 That's so raven: Everything you need to know about the guardians of the Tower
- 4 Airbnb house party violence leaves police officer with broken finger
- 5 Tribute to 7th Barts Health Trust worker to die of Covid-19
- 6 Police hunt after stabbing in Cable Street: One man hurt
- 7 Teenager found dead in Victoria Park
- 8 Driver arrested after police 'drugs patrol' stops car in Whitechapel
- 9 'We need laptops for lockdown children to learn from home’ Tower Hamlets mayor urges
- 10 Doctors urge Tower Hamlets mayor to end support for Silvertown Tunnel
“But it would be very hard for Ian and for me to become assistant manager when I managed here for five and a half years, it would be an impossible one.”
Ling has managed Cambridge United and Torquay United since leaving O’s in 2009 and would consider taking the top job somewhere else if it was right for him.
For the time being though, he is happy with his coaching role at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur as well as other jobs.
Ling added: “I am very well set-up in terms of working for Radio London, I work full time for Tottenham, I have my own coaching company and I consult for an agency so I don’t really need to go back into football management.
“My head tells me ‘no I don’t want to get back into managing’ but my heart says ‘I would if the right opportunity comes along’ so I am not anchoring after it.
“If somebody approached me about being a manager again then I would answer that question when it is asked.”
