FORMER Swindon Town boss Martin Ling has returned to football as the director of football at National League side Leyton Orient.

Ling, who resigned from his role at the County Ground in December 2015 due to health reasons, has returned to the Londoners, whom he guided to promotion from League Two in 2005-06 as manager, following a takeover of the Matchroom Stadium club by Eagle Investments 2017 Limited.

The 50 year old, who made over 150 playing appearances in two spells with Town in the 1980s and 1990s also played for the O’s between 1996 and 2000 before returning to the club as youth coach following his retirement.

Ling was then appointed O’s first team manager in December 2003 following a successful spell as caretaker manager, and entered the history books by guiding the O's to League One on the final day of the 2005-06 season – the first time in 36 years that the club had achieved automatic promotion.

After leaving Orient in 2009, he went on to management spells at Cambridge and Torquay before his 56-day spell with Town.

Leyton Orient's new chairman Nigel Travis said: “I am delighted to announce that Martin Ling, who 11 years ago led the club to League One, has accepted the position as the club’s Director of Football.”

“Martin’s immediate goals are to develop the squad for next season and appoint a first team coach.

“His deep ties to the club will help him build on Leyton Orient’s heritage of developing strong young talent through its academy,” he added.

“Longer-term, along with the new management team, Martin is committed to return Leyton Orient to its winning days.”

Ling was appointed as Town boss by Lee Power in November 2015, but departed less than two months later and later revealed that he had again been battling mental health issues, which had also prompted his departure as manager of Torquay in 2013.

Ling will work with an as-yet unnamed chief executive to be responsible for the day-to-day commercial management of the club.