On 18 January 2009, with Leyton Orient in 21st place and in the relegation zone, the decision was taken for Ling and his assistant Dean Smith to leave the club by mutual consent.
[3] After leaving Orient, Ling was hired by Hibernian to set up a network of scouts in England for the Scottish Premier League club, while also identifying players himself.
[8] Cambridge United started the new season under the caretaker stewardship of Paul Carden, but after chairman Rolls left the club on 5 August 2009, Ling said he would be keen to return as manager.
[19] Despite a short FA Cup run, which ended in a 2–1 First Round replay at League One Huddersfield Town, following a televised 0–0 at the Abbey, Ling's signings generally struggled on and off the field.
[26] Although they occupied an automatic promotion spot on several occasions towards the end of the season, a late loss of form – which saw United fail to win any of their last five league fixtures – meant that Torquay had to settle for a play-off place.
The club was drawn to play Cheltenham Town in the play-off semi-finals, and, following a 2–0 loss at Whaddon Road, a 2–1 reverse in the home leg at Plainmoor condemned Torquay to another year in League Two.
[27] Ling made a number of transfers ahead of the 2012–13 season, releasing forward Taiwo Atieno, defenders Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and Ed Palmer; signing Craig Easton, Ryan Jarvis, Nathan Craig, Michael Poke and Aaron Downes on free transfers; and purchasing Billy Bodin from Swindon Town for £70,000 – just £5,000 less than Torquay's record fee paid, for Leon Constantine in 2004.
[28] Torquay also sold Olejnik to Peterborough United for £300,000, defender Mark Ellis to Crewe Alexandra for £80,000, and midfielder Eunan O'Kane to AFC Bournemouth for £150,000.
"[29] Opening their league campaign with a 0–0 draw at newly promoted Fleetwood Town, Torquay drew four of their first five fixtures, their other early result a 4–2 win over Rochdale.
After taking the Torquay job, Ling wrote a weekly column in the local newspaper Herald Express, covering both his playing and managerial career as well as sport in general.
[30] On 29 April 2013 Torquay United controversially announced that it would be terminating Ling's contract with immediate effect, saying that "the decision is based purely on footballing grounds, after falling from play-off contenders last season to just escaping relegation this time around, and early exits in all three cup competitions."