Martin Ling began his journey with Leyton Orient in 1996 when he joined from Swindon Town. He made over 150 games in his four years as a player in East London, and following his retirement, went on to become a coach at the club before being appointed Manager in December 2003.
After six successful years managing The O’s, which included a promotion to League One, Ling parted ways with the club in 2009. However, as Ling says; “If you’ve worked at a place for 17 years of your life then it’s in your blood. I love this place.” That love was shown when he returned in 2017.
Now Director of Football at the club closest to his heart, Ling spoke openly and honestly on all things Orient. Including the club’s recent parting of ways with Head Coach Ross Embleton, the decision behind the hiring of Captain Jobi McAnuff as Interim Manager, the club’s multitude of players out of contract in the summer and the criticism that his son Sam has had to overcome as a player in E10.
Parting Ways With Ross Embleton
Former Orient Head Coach Ross Embleton was sacked at the end of last month following a run of seven league games without a win, a decision Ling said; “was difficult because I’ve known him personally for a long time… we’re good pals.”
Due to the relationship between the pair, Ling insisted on being the one to break the news to Embleton. However, the process of how it was going to be delivered had changed.
“The decision was taken after the game on Saturday. It was going to be that Ross spoke to the players and the press, and I go into the dressing room to say well done to the players. But me and Ross met in the corridor and his words to me were ‘If that’s it will you let me know now, because I want to do it my way and talk to the players’.
“As a mate, and someone that wanted to listen to what he said I told him ‘Yeah that’s it’. He asked me to come to the dressing room while he addressed the players, and he showed class as he always does.”
Aggressive
After a win against Morecambe in early January, The O’s sat in a playoff position in League Two and only six points off top spot. Because of this the O’s hierarchy were aggressive heading into the January transfer window, with Ling proclaiming, “we bought the players in to push us up the league”. Those signings included Dan Kemp and Adam Thompson from West Ham and Rotherham respectively, as well as the likes of Nick Freeman and Tristan Abrahams from Wycombe and Newport on loan.
Despite the improvement of the playing squad, Orient’s form took a turn for the worse. Going without a win during the following month and falling into the bottom half of the table, which Ling states “was a massive part of Ross’ departure.”
Ling went on to show appreciation for his former Head Coach though, following up with; “He’s been top class all the way through. We welcome Ross back at Brisbane Road any day, and he knows that.”
“I Look At Myself And Know I Got Some Things Wrong.”
Something Orient’s Director of Football has been criticised for since his return to the club in 2017 is the apparent failure of the multiple Head Coaches he has hired. In his four-year spell as DOF so far, Ling has overseen four permanent Head Coach reigns, including Steve Davis’ seven-month tenure and Carl Fletcher’s 28-day spell at the helm. Those two sandwiched the success of the late Justin Edinburgh who guided Orient back into the Football League before his untimely passing in 2019.
“I look at myself and know I got some things wrong. I’m not naive, I know some people will turn around and say, ‘You keep employing mangers, maybe the person employing them is the one that’s wrong.’ It’s obvious.” Ling said.
Talking about some fans questioning his position at the club, the 54-year-old followed up by saying; “I was given the target of League One within a six-year period. We’re four years in now, we may have an outside chance of a late run to the playoffs this year. All I know is the place is in a better place since I walked in. You’ll only get judged on where you started and where you finish. We started in the National League and we got out in two years, we’ve had two years in League Two now. If the club didn’t see a progression in what I was doing, then they would get rid of me.”
He continued “What I would really like for the next year or so is ‘calm’. All I’ve had since the day I’ve walked in is not ‘calm’. Walking into a club that was on its knees that needed to be pulled around just to get a team together for the first game of the season. So, the first year was mayhem, the second year I enjoyed the rollercoaster that proved to be in terms of the promotion. Obviously, the passing of Justin, which has been the hardest situation I’ve faced in my life. Then off the back of that we have Covid-19. So, a bit of calm would be nice [He laughed].”
“If I Built A Robot Of A Manager, He Would Have An Awful Lot Of Components Of That Robot.”
Following the club’s parting with Embleton, Club Captain Jobi McAnuff was appointed Interim Manager at the recommendation of Ling.
When questioned on why he recommended the former Jamaican international to the board, Ling said; “The man is impressive… If I built a robot of a Manager, he would have an awful lot of components of that robot. I’m not saying he’s going to be a top manager, but he’s so impressive with what he does and how he does it. I spoke to the players on their thoughts and everyone said ‘Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes’.
“It’s a 16-game punt, one that may come off or may not. So, let’s see what happens over the next 15 games.”
“I’ll Say This Openly If Orient Don’t Keep Him, There Will Be Plenty Of Clubs That Will”
The O’s head into the remainder of the season with a total of 19 first-team players out of contract at the end of the season. However, Ling mentioned that the club have multiple players on their ‘green list’ (a list indicating players who the club would like to retain) that they are currently in negotiations with.
One player that stands out when viewing those who are soon out of contract is right-back and Ling’s son Sam. Those are negotiations that the Director of Football himself will not be involved in as he believes “It’s not fair for anybody.”
“He takes more criticism than anybody. People don’t give him enough credit for the ability he has. I’ll say this openly – if Orient don’t keep him, there will be plenty of clubs that will, so I won’t lose any sleep over it. I think he’s getting to the end of his tether with the scenario of being the son of the Director of Football.”
With 14 games left in the season Ling will be hoping The O’s can make one last-gasp push for a playoff position with McAnuff at the helm, going into what is set to be a very busy off-season for the Director of Football.
