JIM NEEDS VINTAGE FOR PORT

NOT many managers want to raise the average age of their squad, but that is exactly the approach taken by Southport boss Jim Bentley this summer.

- Chris Dunlavy

The former Morecambe boss replaced club legend Liam Watson in August last year and inherited a callow squad reeling off the back of 11 straight defeats.

Bentley’s nous and a change of ownership eventually averted relegation from National League North, but a season of struggle left the 48-year-old in no doubt as to what was required.

Only four of Southport’s ten summer signings are under the age of 30, with former Wrexham, Peterborough and Bradford centre-back Nat Knight-Percival the headline act at 37.

“A lot of the players we had – and this is no disrespect to them or Liam – just didn’t have the know-how and the experience,” explains Bentley.

“That’s nobody’s fault. There wasn’t much money so they had to shop a little bit lower down and take a couple of chances.

“One or two of those kicked on and got sold. One or two didn’t and have ended up dropping back down. We’ve just tried to eliminate that risk element as much as possible.