TORQUAY United defender Mark Ellis has been named the npower League 2 Player of the Month for January, and manager Martin Ling has scooped the Manager of the Month title.

Five victories in January and the establishment of a successful coaching team has yielded a wonderful start to 2012.

"If I could split the award into six pieces, I would," said Ling.

"One piece would go to the players and the other four to video analyst Lee Dunn, coach Ken Veysey, physio Damian Davey, assistant manager Shaun Taylor and I'll have a little bit myself.

"Every one of these components has allowed me to get this award. My name will be on the award but the players and four staff members of our management team deserve just as much praise.

"I've been in a situation at Orient where I had to dismantle the management team I'd put together because it didn't work.

"Coming to this situation, I knew Shaun and Kenny but had never worked with them. I'd met Damian once as well and Lee Dunn was brought in by us, and it's worked perfectly.

"We all get on very well, which is a big factor. We all laugh together and cry together when it doesn't go right, but we all prop each other up. A manager is only as good as his management team because you need the support structure around you."

Three goals in five consecutive wins, along with his superb performances at the back, secured the accolade for Ellis.

It is a double success for United after boss Martin Ling also picked up the Manager of the Month prize.

"It is an exceptional award for Mark and one that he fully deserves," said Martin. "He is a wholehearted player and showed tremendous patience at the start of the year.

"He's been a revelation since he came back in the team and has added goalscoring in recent times, which I'm sure has helped him to get the award."

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