THERE are few people in football who would complete a five-hour round trip to have a one minute conversation with a friend who needed their help.

However, that is what Walsall manager Dean Smith did for Martin Ling when he was at one of his lowest points in the grips of depression.

The pair’s friendship blossomed during their time at Leyton Orient together as players from the moment Ling questioned the value of Smith in his first training session after joining from Hereford.

The duo went on to form a management team that lifted the O’s out of League Two and have remained close friends since.

Now the two go head-to-head this evening at the County Ground for the first time in their managerial careers and Smith is pleased to see Ling given a route back into the game.

“He’s been very open about the troubles he’s had off the pitch with his depression and it’s great that he’s out of that,” said the Saddlers boss, who gave a watchful eye over Swindon’s 2-1 win at home to Scunthorpe United.

“He looks in a good place at the moment but I’m not sure about his beard and I told him that as well.

“I went to visit him when he was at his lowest ebb in the Priory.

“When he first had the bout of it, I was on the phone to his wife and went over to visit him.

“I remember he was having a bad day when he was manager of Cambridge and they were playing York away. He was having anxiety.

“I was head of youth here and I spoke to Chris Hutchings, the manager at the time, and said: ‘Do you mind if I shoot up there to see Martin, he’s not very well at the moment?’ “He allowed me so I drove up all the way to York, paid to go in and watch behind the goal and then spoke to him for one minute after the game.

“But that’s what you do for mates, to go and support them and help them through those times.

“It’s pleasing for everybody to see him back.

“We’ve always kept in touch and, what little part I’ve played in his recovery, it’s just nice to see him back in football, which is where he belongs.

“In all walks of life people suffer from depression but end up going back to work and I’m thankful that there’s a club that have enabled Martin to go and do a job and he’s started with a winning game.”

Despite the close bond between the two managers, Smith would not be distracted from the task at hand and would enjoy getting three points over Ling.

Having been beaten on total appearances and goals, Smith would like to be the first one to chalk up a win in the managerial head-to-head statistics.

When asked if there would be a competitive edge to the friendship this evening Smith replied: “Definitely.

“It will be nice to try to get one over on each other.

“He’s got one over me in appearances – I think he’s got ten more appearances than me, and one more goal.

“Although he should score more goals. So it would be nice if I can get a win over him.”