Managerless Torquay prepare to take on Vale
Manager Martin Ling will not be in charge of Torquay United when they take on Micky Adams’ Port Vale side at the weekend.
Ling’s absence through what the club are describing as a “debilitating illness” has been dominating the Devon backpages in recent weeks as concerns grow for the popular manager’s welfare.
The former Leyton Orient and Cambridge United manager joined the Gulls in 2011 and took the club into the play-offs during his first season in charge.
When Ling first reported ill on January 28th, most people felt that the manager would be missing for a few days, but he has still not recovered from what the local press have described as “flu-type virus” which has been giving the 46 year-old headaches.
Assistant manager Shaun Taylor has been in charge of first-team affairs since Ling reported ill and although Taylor won his first match, the club have now lost four games in a row.
So, it came as a further blow to United fans when the club announced last week that Ling was now expected to miss the rest of the season and that they would be seeking an experienced coach to assist Taylor with his first-team duties.
All of us at OVF would like to pass on our best wishes to Martin Ling and wish him a speedy and full recovery.
Torquay’s form under Taylor:
- Exeter (A): W
- Cheltenham (A): L
- Fleetwood (H): L
- Rotherham (H): L
- Rochdale (A): L