Jim Bentley back at the helm at AFC Fylde as he awaits heart surgery

But with the backroom team assembled around him and headed by assistant manager Nick Chadwick, Coasters boss Bentley is confident the club will be in good hands when the time comes for him to take a back-seat for a while.

It is almost two months since the club announced that the 44-year-old would require heart surgery because of a blocked artery.

Fylde began training ahead of their National League North campaign last week and will play their first pre-season fixture away to a Wigan Under-23 side a week tomorrow.

And with Bentley at the helm as he waits for an operation date, the Coasters boss is satisfied with the club’s progress after five and a half months without a game.

Bentley told the club website: “I’m all right. I feel fit and I’m doing a lot of walking.

“There is no real difference to how I was before but I just know I have the issue, so I need to keep an eye on myself. It needs sorting but I am still waiting on a date.

“The big thing for me is that I thought it would be instant and I would be a write-off for a bit without having my backroom staff and squad in place.

“Obviously I have to take things easy and make sure I manage myself right, so it’s great that I have good people around me.

“Jonty (Castle, chief executive) and I have discussed different things.

“We’ve run them past the chairman (David Haythornthwaite) and he has backed us where he can.

“I am now really, really pleased with what we have in the building in terms of coaching staff, and we have some good players who have come in to add to the group we already had.

“We’re identifying players all the time who can make us even better, so I am pleased that’s coming along nicely and I have full trust in everyone here.

“When the time comes for me to dip out and have the operation, so be it. I can then come back into a good set-up that we are building here.

“For now, though, I am just waiting on a date and going about my business as normal.”

As for the return to training, Bentley added: “I’m from a background – and Chaddy certainly is as well – that it can’t all be about running and flogging them.

“From day one we’ve had the balls out and the lads have been just getting used to having it back on their feet.

“The first couple of weeks are of course about fitness, so between all the staff we’ve put a plan in place.

“We’ve had numerous meetings, taken into consideration everyone’s thoughts and got plans in place to make sure we are ready when the big kick-off arrives and are fit enough to sustain it throughout the season.”