Jim Bentley has a God-like status in the town of Morecambe. He joined the Shrimps in 2002 and became a cult hero. A no nonsense tough centre-back who would become player/manager of the side nine years later in 2011. He's been the permanent manager since the latter part of 2011.
Now, to have spent so long at a club means that you're going to have some loyal supporters. Bentley apparently hasn't mellowed at all since his playing career. He was hit with a two-match ban and £750 fine after the League Two game with Cheltenham Town on December 17th.
Bentley 'used abusive and/or threatening words towards an opponent or opponents and/or his behaviour amounted to improper conduct' following Alex Kenyon's sending off.
£750 is a lot of money for a League Two manager. Their weekly wage presumably wouldn't be much more than that, particularly a club the size of Morecambe. They've struggled with financial difficulties already this season with players going unpaid.
But Bentley didn't have to pay a penny of his fine as the Morecambe fans rallied to raise £1,000 between them in order to pay for their managers discrepancy.
@ShrimpsOfficial fans collect to pay Jim Bentley's fine. Where else would that happen? @BBCLancsSport pic.twitter.com/5Ec0irEQjn
— Derek Quinn (@derekquinncomm) January 7, 2017
The quality gesture was brought to Bentley after yesterday's 4-1 victory over Notts County. The manager had to spend the game in the stands. He was present for the post-match press conference though, where a fan representative presented him with the cash.
You can see how emotional the manager gets after being caught off guard by the money.
Bentley will be banned for the Shrimps' trip to Carlisle next Saturday. Expect a thunderous reaction when he returns to the Globe Arena for the home game against Accrington Stanley on the 28th of January.
