Jim Gannon

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Jim Gannon
Personal information
Full name	James Paul Gannon
Date of birth	7 September 1968 (1968-09-07) (age 40)
Place of birth	Southwark, London, England
Playing position	Centre-half; various
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1988–1989 1989–1990 1990 1990–2000 1994 2000–2001 2001–2004	Dundalk Sheffield United → Halifax Town (loan) Stockport County → Notts County (loan) Crewe Alexandra Shelbourne	00? 0(?) 000 0(0) 002 0(0) 383 (52) 002 0(0) 007 0(0) 00? 0(?)
Teams managed
2004–2005 2005–2009 2009-	Dundalk Stockport County Motherwell
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

James Paul "Jim" Gannon (born 7 September 1968), known affectionately as "Jimbo" is an English-born Irish association football manager and former player. He is the former manager of Stockport County having been made redundant as manager of the cash-strapped club at the end of the 2008-09 season. He was unveiled as the new Motherwell manager on 30 June 2009.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Managerial career 2.1 Dundalk 2.2 Stockport County 2.3 Motherwell 3 Outspoken nature 4 Honours 4.1 As a player 4.2 As a manager 5 Managerial stats 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Playing career

He was born in Southwark, South London and moved with his family to Ireland at a young age. Gannon received his start in higher level football from the Irish club Dundalk. Gannon impressed for Dundalk, and in April 1989 was signed up by English team Sheffield United where he struggled to break into the first team. After 12 months he moved to Stockport County where he had a distinguished ten year career. His 479 club appearances puts him in third spot in Stockport’s all-time appearance list and his 65 goals are 9th in their scoring records. He was awarded a testimonial against Manchester City in August 2000,^[1] but after a dispute with the club over the arrangements, he was sent out on a brief loan spell at Crewe Alexandra, before returning to Ireland with Shelbourne.

Gannon was and still is known by Stockport fans as 'The Ghost', due to his knack of 'ghosting' in at the back of the box to score from crosses. He has received two distinguished honours from the club’s supporters—elected to the Stockport Hall of Fame and as Honorary Vice President of the Hatters Independent Supporters Club.

On his return to Ireland, Gannon completed his accountancy exams and had a number of successful years at Shelbourne which included winning 2 League Championships, scoring in a Champions League qualifier^[2] and playing in the UEFA Cup.

[edit] Managerial career

[edit] Dundalk

In June 2004 he was appointed to his first managerial post, taking charge of Dundalk, who were also the first club in Gannon's professional playing career. On 14 November 2005, Gannon confirmed his resignation from Dundalk after his position had been called into question as his chief supporters, vice-chairman Tom Baldwin and chief executive Sean Connolly, left the club.^[3] This left Dundalk without a manager for their final match of the 2005 season, in which they had already secured a comfortable mid-table position in Ireland's second tier of association football.^[4] Prior to Gannon's departure, the team had drawn ten consecutive matches.

[edit] Stockport County

2005-06

After the resignation of Chris Turner as Stockport County manager, Gannon was appointed as caretaker manager with the team five points adrift of safety at the bottom of League Two,^[5] facing potential relegation from the Football League. An upturn in results saw Gannon offered the job full time, which allowed him to guide County to safety, avoiding relegation from the football league on the final day of the 2005–06 season.

2006-07

At the beginning of the 2006-07 season, Gannon and Stockport announced they had drawn up a 5-year plan to take the club to the Championship. Results on the field followed this statement of intent, with Gannon leading County to a League record nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal. County missed out on the League Two play-offs due to results on the final day of the season, missing out on goal difference despite a 5-0 victory over Darlington.

2007-08

County finished the 2007-08 season in fourth, and on his fifth visit to Wembley, his first as a manager, Gannon guided Stockport to a 3-2 win over Rochdale in May 2008 to win promotion to League One.^[6] Having quickly taken Stockport from the foot of League Two to promotion to League One on a meager budget, Gannon is branded one of the most highly-rated managers in the lower leagues.^[7]

2008-09

Gannon led County to an impressive start to the season following their promotion, and they spent Christmas in the play-off places with the best away record in the division.^[8] The new year did start uncomfortably for Gannon; with media speculation linking him with a move away from Edgeley Park, and the club announcing they were in financial difficulty, he took interviews reassuring fans of his intent to stick by County.

On 24 February 2009 Stockport agreed to allow Gannon to hold talks with Brighton and Hove Albion, who were seeking to fill the managerial position left vacant by Micky Adams.^[9] Jim suggested that his family would play a large part in his decision to move clubs, with Stockport's financial troubles may impress on his own financial situation, while uprooting his family to move to Brighton may be undesirable. Gannon was made favorite to be given the job by several bookmakers,^[10] and he met with Brighton chairman Dick Knight on the 25th, before announcing on the 26th that he had chosen not to take the job. Dick Knight had indicated that Gannon was his first choice for the job,^[11] and former Stockport players now at Brighton had shown their desire for Gannon to be given the job.^[12][13] However, Gannon turned down the opportunity and vowed stay with at the Edgeley Park club. On 6 May 2009 Gannon was made redundant as manager of Stockport along with assistant boss Peter Ward. The move comes after the club were placed into administration at the end of April and were deducted 10 points in accordance with Football League rules. ^[14]

[edit] Motherwell

Gannon was confirmed as manager of Scottish Premier League side Motherwell at the end of June 2009, two days before the club's Europa League first round qualifying tie against Llanelli of Wales.^[15] After taking the job, Gannon said that he hoped to bring in up to six players, most of them from England to bolster a squad threadbare after summer exits.^[16] On 2 July in his first game in charge in the Europa League first round qualifying first leg, Motherwell lost 1-0 against Llanelli.^[17]

[edit] Outspoken nature

Gannon was one of few managers in the lower leagues to hold a full UEFA Pro Licence.^{[citation needed]} Despite being relatively new to management, Gannon has been unafraid to criticise referees, other clubs or The Football Association.^{[citation needed]}

During Stockport County's record-breaking run of nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal, Gannon hit out at Bristol Rovers and the match referee when a fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Gannon lodged a complaint with the FA with regard to Rovers, as he felt not enough was done to ready the pitch, and also a complaint with regard to the referee's handling of the situation. Gannon was later incensed with the FA when the same referee was allowed to take charge of the postponed fixture.^[18] Rovers won the delayed match 2–1.

Priding himself on playing flowing football in the lower leagues of the English game,^{[citation needed]} Gannon has repeatedly spoken out against clubs he feels play too physically,^{[citation needed]} and referees he feels do not give his players enough protection.^[19] Gannon was left threatening police action over a strong challenge that left Stockport striker Matty McNeil unconscious and in hospital.^[20]

Gannon branded approaches from Manchester City and Liverpool questionable and unprofessional after the two Premier League clubs swooped for youngsters being trained in Stockport County's development squads.^[21][22]

His open nature has also drawn critiscism from his own fans, who felt some interviews shared aspects that should have been handled inside the club.^{[citation needed]} After a touch-line argument with then-club captain Gareth Owen, Gannon gave a forthright interview explaining that disciplinary action will be taken, and Owen would be stripped of the captaincy.^[23] Owen, who was later released by the club, did not play another game for County. Gannon also drew furore when he discussed ongoing contract negotiations in the press.^[24]

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a player

• Football League One Runners Up
  • Stockport County F.C. 1996-97
• Football League One Play-Off Finalists
  • Stockport County F.C. 1991-92, 1993-94
• Football League Two Runners Up
  • Stockport County F.C. 1990-91
• Football League Trophy Runners Up
  • Stockport County F.C. 1991-92, 1992-93
• League of Ireland Championship
  • Shelbourne F.C. 2001-2002, 2003

[edit] As a manager

• Football League Two Play-Off Winners
  • Stockport County F.C. 2007-08

[edit] Managerial stats

As of 30 June 2009.

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Dundalk		8 June 2004	14 November 2005	57	19	16	22	33.3
Stockport County		28 December 2005	6 May 2009	182	79	42	61	43.4
Motherwell		30 June 2009		0	0	0	0

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jim Gannon career stats at Soccerbase
• Jim Gannon management career stats at Soccerbase

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