Bentley reflects on his tenure

Bentley: Pondering mad times

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley attributes his status as the longest-serving manager in Lancashire to football's crazy nature.

A year of managerial upheaval in the north west took one of its more unexpected turns on Saturday when Fleetwood parted company with Micky Mellon.

The Shrimps lie 17th, six points and 10 places below their neighbours, leaving Bentley to survey an astonishing situation 18 months into his Globe Arena reign.

"It's mad that I'm the longest serving manager now and a sign of the mad times we are living in at the moment," he told the Morecambe Visitor.

"I don't like seeing any manager lose their job and I was shocked when Micky Mellon went because his record at Fleetwood has been excellent over the last few years.

"They have had a few poor results in recent weeks but are still up there with a long way to go.

"I am a big believer that you have to build things at a club and that takes time but many managers don't seem to get that these days."