Jim Bentley arrived at St James' Park on trial early in 1996 at the same time that club mate John Sharpe signed on a permanent basis. He later played for Morecambe, where he was later manager, and skippered the club to its 2007 Wembley play-off win over Exeter City.    

Returning to Manchester City after his brief stay at St James' Park, Jim remained at Maine Road for another year before enjoying a career in non-league football with Telford United and, from 2002, Morecambe.

Captaining Morecambe to third place in the Conference in 2007, he was a member of the side that beat Exeter City in the Wembley play-off final to secure a place in the Football League. Remaining with the Shrimps for another four years he ended his playing career having played the best part of 300 games for the club.  

Then becoming manager of the Lancashire seaside club, he enjoyed eight years at the helm until 2019 and thereafter managed AFC Fylde, Rochdale and Southport.