BENTLEY’S BOYS EYE PROMOTION
Play-off position is goal for Gulls
MARK BENTLEY says he won’t hide from his aim of Canvey Island breaking into the playoff conversation this season.
With the breakthrough of crowds being allowed back in Non-League grounds from yesterday, the Isthmian North side can continue to forge ahead with their pre-season preparations.
Like for all managers at these levels, Bentley says the uncertainty over football’s restart has made planning and signing players tricky.
Some players have moved on for pastures new but the boss is happy with where they stand as the kick-off in September grows more likely.
“I haven’t released anyone – I didn’t want to go through the process of having to rebuild a whole squad because I had to do it last year,” Bentley told The NLP.
“At least I can say these are all my players now – there’s no one left in the current squad from when I took over nearly two years ago. These are my players now, it’s no excuses really.
“Some players you don’t want to lose and others, if you don’t want to play for the club you don’t want to play for the club. I need players to play for the shirt and get this club certainly up in those play-off positions this year.
“That will certainly be my target – I’m not going to lie about it because that’s where I want to be. So there’s work to be done over the next few weeks.
“Obviously the National League clubs are a bit behind us (they kick off in October), which hurts us a little bit. Because players commit to trials whereas we obviously start on September 12 in the FA Cup. So there are a couple of players I’ve got my eye on who have got trials.
“They want to play as high as they can but I can’t wait forever. So for the first few weeks, in a couple of positions, we might have to wait to see what they do with those National League sides.
“I’ve been in their position, you want to play as high as you can and have that opportunity. It’s something we will have to overcome and if I had to start the season tomorrow with the squad I’ve got I would genuinely be pleased.”
Big hitters
Bentley added forward Louis Hunt and midfielder Jamie Salmon to his ranks, while keeper Bobby Mason joins from Great Wakering Rovers.
Bentley, who had a good playing career that took in Southend and Gillingham having started out in Non-League with Enfield and Aldershot, is ambitious and wants the get the famous name climbing the Pyramid again.
But the 42-year-old former Grays Athletic boss knows they are in a highly competitive Step 4 division.
He said: “People say, ‘Are we the biggest club in the Isthmian North?’ Possibly so, but there are some big hitters. Brentwood are having a go, Romford, obviously. You can’t write off Maldon & Tiptree – although I know they’ve lost a lot of their squad from last year but they can still attract decent players because of what they achieved.
“There are others like Aveley and Grays – so it’s not going to be easy. But we can’t worry about others – we’ve got our own focus.”