MARK Bentley said he has ‘unfinished business’ as a manager after taking over from Danny Heale at Canvey Island.

The former Southend United midfielder replaces Heale at the Gulls, following the latter’s decision to step down.

The move comes as something of a surprise, with Heale having occupied the hot seat since May 2013 and with the Gulls seventh in the Isthmian North standings.

But the torch has now been handed to Bentley, 40, who returns to the dugout for the first time since April 2016 after his resignation at Grays Athletic.

And he admitted he had been ‘desperate’ to get back into management for the past two-and-a-half years.

“I heard the position was open last week and it has all happened very quickly,” said Bentley, who is also working at Stevenage’s academy.

“I have been desperate to get back into management since I left Grays, in honesty. I feel I have unfinished business as a manager and a coach.

“I have had a couple of interviews since leaving Grays but people haven’t taken the risk. But I have got my UEFA A Licence now and am ready for this job.

“I have been out of management for more than two years but it feels like longer. Academy football is not me. It is non-competitive and too focused on development.

“I want to win three points on a Saturday afternoon.”

Bentley said he spoke with Gulls chairman John Batch about the vacancy and also received the blessing of the outgoing Heale.

And, while he is pleased to inherit a talented squad, he says he now has aspirations to move up the leagues with his new club.

“It was good to talk to Dan about it and he is happy to step aside. The time is right and he is backing me, which is great,” added Bentley.

“I am really excited about it but I am not joining a club to settle. I want to manage at a higher level and Canvey want to play at a higher level.

“It is not often a manager leaves with the club in seventh place in the league but this is a good squad with players that have played at a higher level.

“They have had some disappointing results recently but they should be in the top three in this league, as a minimum.

“We will be pushing for promotion. There might be a few changes but there will be no rash decisions.”

Bentley added one of those changes will not be current assistant manager Brad Wellmen.

Wellmen will lead the team for Tuesday’s friendly against Dulwich Hamlet, with Bentley watching from the sidelines.

He said: “Brad will remain for now. He knows the club and that will help. I haven’t met the players yet. When I do my message will be prepare to work hard.

“I am looking forward to Tuesday. Brad will take the team and we will move on from there.”