Martin Ling: Swindon Town manager's depression 'has gone'

New Swindon Town boss Martin Ling believes his depression "had a part to play" in his absence from management.

Ling was appointed by the struggling League One club on Tuesday.

It is his first managerial role since leaving Torquay United in April 2013 - three months after he had stepped away from the game because of illness.

"I am a football manager again and I am really excited to restart a career that was going very well," the 49-year-old told BBC Points West.

"I had an illness - an illness that now has gone.

"People have illnesses and manage football clubs. People have depression and work in the Bank of England or in politics, but because you're a high-level football manager, you can't disappear for a couple of weeks and no-one know what the problem was.

"It's an illness an awful lot of people are working with in different roles, in different jobs."

Ling, who played 190 times in two spells as a Swindon player, added: "It has taken me a bit of time to come back and I know depression had a part to play, but it is not there. The depression's gone."

Former Leyton Orient and Cambridge United manager Ling believes his illness was the main reason for his departure from Torquay, although the club insisted it was for footballing reasons.

Swindon are 23rd in League One and only above bottom club Crewe Alexandra on goal difference.

"I think the club needs belief within the squad again," added Ling. "It needs a focus and a togetherness.

"It needs someone to pull all the components - which I think are in place at this football club - together and allow it to flourish.

"I am sitting here as the person who is going to pull all that together."

Ling's first match in charge is an FA Cup first-round tie at Rochdale on Saturday.