“The last game of the season always brings something to play for”: Jim Bentley’s message to Morecambe squad
Jim Bentley has challenged Morecambe’s players to finish with a flourish as they end a National League season to forget at Forest Green Rovers tomorrow (12.30pm).
The relegated Shrimps have had a truly turbulent campaign, starting last summer with questions as to the club’s existence amid Panjab Warriors’ prolonged takeover.
Former manager Derek Adams departed, replaced by Ashvir Singh Johal whose hastily-assembled squad beat Altrincham when Morecambe’s season belatedly began.
That proved to be the highlight of Johal’s reign, which ended in January after five wins in 28 league games.
Bentley returned for a second spell in charge but, after a promising mini-run in February and March, he could not help the Shrimps avoid a third relegation in four years.
They could still finish second-bottom of the table if they lose at Forest Green and Braintree Town pick up three points against Tamworth.
Bentley said: “The last game of the season always brings something to play for, be it professional pride or players playing for their futures.
“We know where we are as a club, so we have to go there, give it a go and give a good account of ourselves.
“We’ve tried to win every game and we’ve been in every game apart from the one against Southend (February’s 5-1 defeat).
“In this position, we’ve been trying to win because we’ve got to win and, when you do that, you can leave the back door open.
“I’ve said all along, we could have taken more points than we have done, there have been games we’ve lost where we could have drawn and games we drew that we could have won.”
Youngsters Adam Fairclough and Oscar Wright are set to feature again, having done so against Boreham Wood last weekend, as Bentley looks to involve players set to stay at the club next season.
He added: “We did that last weekend with the team we played and the subs we made, the likes of Adam and Oscar will definitely be involved again.
“There are one or two injuries again within the team, there are one or two players whose futures are elsewhere.
“There are one or two on contract as well, so there’s lots to take into consideration, but there were changes made last weekend and it will be a similar squad this weekend.”