Jim Bentley celebrates five years as Manager this week.
SHRIMPS’ boss Jim Bentley celebrates five years in charge of the club this week.
The boss, who is now the fourth longest serving manager in English football, says there have been lot of highs and lows in his time and still loves the role at the Globe Arena.
He said: “I think we’ve brought the club a long way in all departments.
“We’ brought the youth development side on, the sports science on, the DVD analysis side.
“Everything’s improved in my opinion since I’ve taken over.
“It is difficult because you are one of the small boys in the division competing against the odds every year.
“I’ve always enjoyed being the underdog and relished the challenge.
“The minimum requirement is to stay in the Football League and we’ve done that in the five years I’ve been here.
“There’s a lot of big clubs who have finished below us and even been relegated.”
Bentley’s five years in charge since taking over on May 13, 2011 make him the fourth longest serving manager in the top four divisions behind only MK Dons’ Karl Robinson, who went to the same school, Exeter’s Paul Tisdale, a regular League 2 touchline rival of Bentley’s, and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who sits top of the pile.
Morecambe’s history with managers, having had just three in the last 20 years, and Bentley’s association with club mean his relative longevity compared with most appointments in the modern era is hardly a surprise.
There have been plenty of highs since being promoted from reserve team manager to take over from Sammy McIlroy - topping League 2 after a couple of strong starts, the come-from-behind 4-3 win over Chesterfield and memorable Globe league cup nights against Wolves and Newcastle to name a few.
There have obviously been no shortage of lows too, some of the most acute coming in the last few months, but Bentley says whatever happens in the coming months, his future more uncertain than ever with new owners expected at the Globe Arena in the coming weeks, he will leave with no regrets.
“I’d hoped I would be (here after five years) but in this day and age people expect you to be gone within a year or two,” he said.
“I’ve got a great relationship with Morecambe.
“It is my second home as a player, as a coach, as a captain and as a manager.
“I’ve given it my all and if I ever leave this club I’ll do it with my head held high.
“It’s been an eventful five years. I’ve learnt so much about the job, about myself, about the game.
“I’m thankful that I’ve got the support I’ve got and who knows what’s going to happen in the future.
“I think it’s a great achievement to be at one club five years.
“Long may it continue.”