“It’s been non-stop”: Jim Bentley's long days in trying to save Morecambe from another relegation

Bentley has taken five points from his first five matches, having replaced Ashvir Singh Johal in the dugout at the start of February.

The Shrimps are in a dire position, sitting second-bottom with a nine-point gap to safety and having played a game more than fifth-bottom Sutton United.

It has been a season of catch-up at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, with Morecambe having started the season late following the ownership crisis which engulfed the club over the summer.

Once Panjab Warriors’ buyout was completed and Derek Adams removed as manager, Johal had four days to build a squad for the opening match of the season.

Almost 40 players have come in over the course of the campaign so far, with Bentley also having permission to add more new faces.

Some of those signings have become first-team regulars, though – for one reason or another – a number of the other arrivals may well struggle to be a footnote once the story of this season is written.

It meant that, following Bentley’s return after almost a year out of football, the club’s former promotion-winning captain had to quickly acquaint himself with the biggest Morecambe squad he’s managed in terms of numbers.

That was alongside getting up to speed on the tactical approach the Shrimps had been using under Johal, as well as having to analyse opposition teams and players he may not have been familiar with.

“It’s been non-stop,” Bentley said of his three weeks back with the club.

“I’m there until 9pm most nights, staying over on Monday and Thursday as well.

“What I’ve had to do is just crack on with what’s in front of me.

“We have had to do a few things we believe in, things that we wanted to change.

“There were certain ways they had been playing and set up, which obviously hadn’t worked because that’s why I’m back here.

“It’s a complete change and we’ve had to instil things into the players from day one.

“Set plays, for example, they had a certain way of dealing with them but we’ve gone the other way now so all we can do is try our best and get certain things in place.”

If Panjab Warriors’ ownership has seen a high turnover of personnel on the pitch, there has also been mass change behind the scenes off it.

Rod Taylor and Graham Howse exited the board of directors in December, while Tarnia Elsworth and Rob Smith left their respective roles of fan engagement director and general manager.

Steve Dewsnip has now started work as the Shrimps’ chief operating officer, having recently been commercial director at Northern Premier League West side Stalybridge Celtic.

Martin Thomas has also returned as the club’s head of commercial, after a spell with AFC Fylde.

“The new owners saved the club which we must be grateful for,” Bentley said.

“There’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes and there are a lot of things that need to be sorted before the club can move forward.

“It needs a structure putting in place but all I can do is focus on the football side of things.”