AFC Fylde support for manager Jim Bentley ahead of heart surgery

But while the club owner’s heart condition was treated by stents, Fylde announced on Friday that Bentley will require a bypass to overcome a blocked artery.

As with Bentley, Haythornthwaite’s heart problem also came to light after he experienced chest pains while out running.

In a video for the club website, the Mill Farm chief explained: “Jim has in his family a history, as I have myself, of heart disease.

“His father, who was a footballer himself, had a heart attack fairly young in his life.

“There are so many amazing things you can do now to check what condition your heart is in, things that didn’t exist years ago.

“I had three stents (a device to open up a blocked artery) put in six or seven years ago. I was back to work after two days – you aren’t supposed to be, it’s just my mentality.

“Jim’s probably going to take a little bit longer. It’s not come at the worst time but your number one thing in your life is your health.

“The first thing we wanted to do was to assure Jim of our support. He has to get this done and not worry about the football side. We’ll take care of that. I’m sure Jim will be in (hospital) pretty quickly and get himself sorted out.

“The doctor has said the situation is a lot worse than he thought and probably a stent isn’t going to do it. They have advised that he has a heart bypass.”

Bentley replaced Dave Challinor in charge of Fylde last October, ending a 17-year association with Morecambe as player and manager.

And he and his boss have maintained their sense of humour, as Haythornthwaite added: “I sent him a text back to say, ‘That rules you out of the Barrow job, then!’ We had a laugh about that.

“With Ian Evatt leaving Barrow for Bolton, it was then flying around on the social media, as these things do, that Jim was the hot favourite to go there.”

And Haythornthwaite assured Bentley that he will not be short of well-wishers.

““I said to him the great thing is that these things are fixable and they caught it very early on. He’s a young and fit guy. And although many years ago a heart bypass was touch and go, now it’s like going to have your tooth out. It’s really routine.

“I’m sure everyone associated with AFC Fylde and Morecambe, and football fans in general will want to send Jim their best wishes.”

“The first thing I’d say to Jim is ‘Don’t worry’ because these surgeons are amazing and this technology is amazing these days. I’m sure he’ll come out of this a better and fitter man.”