MARTIN Ling will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of tomorrow’s game between two of his former sides at Roots Hall.

But the ex Exeter City and Southend United midfielder will also be wishing he was still involved in management too.

Ling has not been in charge of a club since his controversial departure from Torquay United in April 2013.

However, having now recovered from the depression which ultimately led to that dismissal, Ling feels ready to return.

And he hopes to soon be handed another opportunity to impress.

“The way I feel now I look back and think it was somebody else who went through depression but I certainly don’t think going through something like that should stop me being a manager again,” said Ling, 48.

“Depression is an illness and people don’t really understand what it’s like unless they’ve been through it themselves.

“Football likes to be a macho, male dominated world and it can look down on depression as a sign of weakness.

“But it’s not like that at all. It’s an illness I’ve recovered from so why can’t I be a manager again, especially as I now have the tools to cope if I suffer a reoccurrence.”

“Neil Lennon has been through depression in his life and he’s now got the job at Bolton Wanderers.

“I just need a chairman to take a chance on me and I actually think I would be a much better manager now with the knowledge I’ve gained.”

Ling is still involved in football and works as a scout for his close friend Dean Smith, who is now manager at League One side Walsall.

He combines that with covering games for BBC Radio London and also runs his own soccer schools in Brentwood and Broxbourne.

But he still misses a more regular involvement in football.

“I love what I do and must see at least three games a week but I miss that day to day involvement of being a manager,” said Ling.

“I have to admit I felt hard done by losing my job at Torquay.

“I was manager there when I suffered the depression and they appointed an interim manager (Alan Knill) in my place while I got myself treated.

“I got them in to the play-offs the year before and although things weren’t going quite so well the following year they told me my job was going to be kept open for me.

“But then they got rid of me which they said was down to footballing reasons which was rubbish.

“However, I think they must look back now and realise it was the wrong decision because they got relegated the following year and aren’t in the Football League anymore.”

Prior to his spell with the Gulls, Ling had won promotion out of League Two with Leyton Orient and endured a mixed spell in charge of Cambridge United.

However, before all of that, Ling also enjoyed an excellent playing career, which saw him make 564 league appearances.

The first of those came at Exeter City, where he played 117 times in a three year spell before teaming up with the Shrimpers in 1986.

And while at Roots Hall he made 164 appearances in a five year spell he remembers mostly with great fondness.

“Every year with Southend there was something riding on the last day of the season so it was always exciting,” recalled Ling.

“I had four brilliant years and then one which wasn’t quite so good as I fell out with the club financially, was on a week to week deal and wasn’t allowed to train with the first team for three or four months.

“I eventually got back involved but it still left a slightly sour taste in my mouth.

“I don’t let that ruin my time at the club though because there were a lot of great times and we won a couple of promotions.

“I obviously still keep an eye out for their results, just like I do Exeter so I’ll be interested in finding out what happens tomorrow.”

Southend head in to the game sitting fifth in the table, while the Grecians are down in 17th.

And Ling believes the two teams will have vastly different expectations this season.

“Southend will want to make the top seven but Exeter have a much smaller budget and I’m sure they will be happy with just staying up,” said Ling.

“They’ve both lost their last couple of games having previously been on good runs so they will be looking to get back to winning ways so it has the makings of an interesting game.”

>Ling’s soccer school takes place at St Martins School in Brentwood every Friday evening for youngsters aged between four and 16.

For more details visit www.lingselite.co.uk