Nick Chadwick back in charge of AFC Fylde as boss Jim Bentley gets new heart surgery date

Coasters boss Bentley's bypass operation has been rescheduled for December 1 and the club announced today that the 44-year-old has temporarily stepped back from his duties.

Assistant boss Chadwick takes charge for tomorrow's National League North game at Leamington and will remain at the helm while Bentley prepares for and then recuperates from his surgery.

The management duo performed a similar changeover four weeks ago, when Chadwick took charge for the victory over Kettering Town, but Bentley was back at the club days later as the second wave of Covid-19 saw his operation put back a month.

And Chadwick told The Gazette that last month's 'trial run' should make the transition even more straightforward this time.

"Yes, maybe this does make it easier but it went smoothly last time, when we got the result against Kettering," he said.

"It's all systems go and we hope to get another positive result at Leamington."

Bentley told the club website: "I have full trust in Nick and the rest of the staff while I am away.

“Although I won’t physically be in the building, I will always be at the end of the phone and watching the games via the stream during my recovery.

“The main priority for me at the moment is that I focus on the operation and recovery that lies ahead. Once I sort my situation out, hopefully I will be back fitter than ever.”

A Fylde statement adds: "Everybody associated with the football club would like to wish Jim all the best with his operation and a speedy recovery."

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