Jim Bentley: Sometimes players can't hide behind manager's comments

Jim Bentley wants his players to stand up and be counted after sending two out to face the press following the defeat to Stevenage last time out.
Jim Bentley.Jim Bentley.
Jim Bentley.

The Morecambe boss has defended his decision not to conduct post-match interviews after the 4-1 reverse, Jamie Devitt and Barry Roche fronting up to the media after a fourth defeat in five League 2 games.

Bentley said; “It was my decision. 
“I’ve never shirked an interview or shied away from it.

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“We had quite a discussion after the game and then I had another meeting that I had to go to so I asked the senior lads to go out and speak.

“I don’t think it’s a problem. I know it’s my duty to do it after game.

“Sometimes it’s a different voice and sometimes the players have got to stand up and not hide behind the manager’s comments.”

Both Devitt and Roche were visibly upset as they tried to dissect The Shrimps’ recent woeful run with Bentley wanting to see similar passion on the field when he takes his side to face Exeter on Saturday.

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He said: “There’s no-one more passionate than me, Kenny (McKenna, assistant manager) and the backroom staff.

“We get the lads fired up and they started well but it just seems every little mistake we make is being punished.

“That can happen when you’re struggling and you’re down at the bottom of the table.

“You’ve got to be stand and be counted.

“They were passionate when they came out and said what they said. 
“Maybe we’ve got to take that onto the pitch and that’s down to the players when they cross the white line at the end of the day.”

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As for the game itself, Bentley conceded his side collapsed late on as the game swung in Stevenage’s favour.

He said: “It was very disappointing because some of our play was good.

“In the second half we had a couple of chances but they got the third and you could see the confidence grow in their team and when you’re on a difficult run it can sap your confidence and make you look poor and that’s what happened in the latter stages with us.

“It was massively disappointing. It been’s a difficult season and we’ve got to learn and move on for another game on Saturday.”