Former Orient boss Martin Ling

The Gulls start as underdogs after first-leg defeat

Former Orient manager Martin Ling admits his hopes of returning to League One with Torquay next season are slim after his side were beaten 2-0 by Cheltenham Town in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final.

The Gulls entertain Town in the second leg tonight at Plainmoor and Ling admitted: “They’re now massive favourites, we’re the massive underdogs. We need to get the first goal to make sure that we give ourselves a chance.”

Ling, along with former Orient players Brian Saah and Ryan Jarvis, are desperate to try and win promotion and the Torquay boss would relish the opportunity to bring his Gulls side to Brisbane Road next season.

The ex-Orient man has done well to guide Torquay into the play-offs after he joined them last summer and had to rebuild the side.

His achievements have not gone unnoticed and he has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Gillingham.