Football is often likened to a soap opera in some quarters, but many Torquay United fans will be hoping Martin Ling will emerge from a shower ala Bobby Ewing in Dallas, and the last few seasons will seem like a very bad dream.
The last few days has seen the Gulls plumb new depths, following the departure of manager Paul Cox they were comprehensively beaten 7-3 by Bromley. This is a reverse of the winning margin when the two sides met earlier this year in the FA Trophy, when United defeated the Ravens - who were then heading for promotion from Conference South.
Cox's arrival brought new hope to the Gulls, his predecessor Chris Hargreaves was placed on gardening leave - he had previously won promotion from the Conference with Mansfield Town and signed a number of players that had previously played under him at Field Mill.
However, he was working with a minimal budget and was also working on a expenses only basis himself without a contract, with a young family also based in the East Midlands. He was also on gardening leave from Mansfield Town, having left the Stags in November 2014.
On his departure, for which he cited personal reasons, the Gulls were, and still are, three points above the National League relegation zone. Also, at this time, off-the-field revelations such as former employees looking to sue the club for unfair dismissal and gates dropping below the 1,800 break even figure, were starting to emerge.
If Martin Ling was to make a return to the Launa Windows Stadium as manager, it wouldn't mark the end of a dream as it will be Torquay United in 2015, rather than Torquay United in 2013, that he would be returning to.
