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.... Seems to me that Dave Thomas in the Herald (online) is alluding to the possibility that if we had of been relegated then maybe we wouldn't have been able to relieve Lingy of his duties and he may well have been tasked with trying to bring us back up. Hardly a ringing endorsement for Lingy, but cleary given the outcome they preferred another (Knill?) candidate to take us forward n League 2.

For those that are criticising the Board for taking so long to reach their decision it could well be that a FINAL decision may only have been made after he final match of the season , when our League status was secured and just as crucially our Central funding at current levels maintained.

If we had of gone down I'm not sure the job(in Non League) would have had quite the same appeal for Alan Knill as it was after all only a couple of years ago when he was managing in he Championship. Of course whether Martin Ling would have wanted it either is by no means certain, but I think there is a reasonable chance he might have taken it on.

As for he timing, it had to be done quickly for he sake of the business and yes although sacking him over the phone on a Sunday evening isn't ideal, it is surely far better than letting him know face to face after a wasted (return) trip of 400 miles!

I said that on the ling sacked thread the other day.............

EDIT - found my post on page 3 or 4 cant remember of the ling sacked thread.............

"i wonder if the board were thinking we might get relegated and would offer him the chance to return with us in the BSP.

but with us retaining our status, perhaps they changed their minds. they may think the same as posters on here - that the type of football that was being played would see us in another relegation fight next season.

and of course knill/brass saying that "they loved every minute" and "were hanging around on hols for a week" may have swung the boards thinking into looking to keep them on here and of course the great response they both received at the end of the rovers game."

Doesn't matter now. Ling is gone and no more appalling football. That chapter is closed and i'm very much looking forward to the future and think we all should.

Forget about Ling, he's gone.

*Theoretical situation*
An out of work manager, let’s call him Mr X, is approached by a football club in the sh*t. He is told, if you can come in and save us from relegation, the permanent job is yours at the end of the season. Not unthinkable.
...With failure to achieve safety resulting in the current incumbent continuing.

AustrianAndyGull wrote:Doesn't matter now. Ling is gone and no more appalling football. That chapter is closed and i'm very much looking forward to the future and think we all should.

Forget about Ling, he's gone.

said like a first-rate mafia hit man! =D

although you forgot to say that hes "with the fishies"........

Didn't mean for my post to sound abrupt CP Gull. Sorry if it sounds that way, it's just that there are a million threads about Lingy doing the rounds and i have no desire to give the bloke any more attention. Just thanking the lord and the board that i don't have to witness tedium and experience frequent narcolepsy during games next season.

Oh and so funny that response Chris!

I'm pleased he's been given the push if only so that it means that Andy has to change the record......

Scott Brehaut wrote:I'm pleased he's been given the push if only so that it means that Andy has to change the record......

Wise words right here. After all Andy's whinging I thought Ling had been in charge for decades but it has only been two years!!

Feels like a f*cking lifetime..............................

If we had gone down we wouldn't have been able to afford to sack Ling.

"Every little helps"


Crap to watch football
Poor form
Poor results
An assistant devoid of ideas and following the leader
A "stress" related illness with possible recurrence.
Tintin and Snowy (Knill and Brass) to the rescue


"Every little helps"

said Troj the TESCO spokesman for South Devon..............................

AustrianAndyGull wrote:said Troj the TESCO spokesman

Oh I know.

(Sybil Fawlty got nowt on Troj)

Off topic

What's wrong with this country is more than the Government of the day.

"The Sybil Service"

Aye, the faulty Sybil Service.

Sybil servants local and national are arse wipes out to protect their pensions at any cost.

Back on topic

What cost Ling his job was a series of events

Executive daggers at the ironmongers for sharpening

Sick leave for sober reflection

Executive daggers back from the ironmongers

Return from sober reflection

Night of the long knives

Death of a manager