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Jim Gannon

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For the rugby league player, see Jim Gannon (rugby league).
Jim Gannon
File:Vs. Darlington (H) Apr 2008.JPG
Personal information
Full name James Paul Gannon
Position(s) Centre-half; various

James Paul "Jim" Gannon (born 7 September 1968) is a professional association football manager and former player.

Having been made redundant as manager of the cash-strapped Stockport County at the end of the 2008-09 season, Gannon was unveiled as the new Motherwell manager on 30 June 2009. He left the club on December 28 2009.

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.

Jim holds the unique record of scoring in all 4 English divisions, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup, the Full Members Cup, the English League play offs, the League of Ireland, the FAI Cup, the League of Ireland Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

Managerial career

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.

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]

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] However, on the away leg in Wales, the Steelmen recorded a 3-0 win to send them into the next round.Motherwell then beat KS Flamurtari 8 - 2 on aggregate after an amazing 8 - 1 victory in the home leg. Motherwell were then knocked out by Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest after two brave dislays. His first league victory was a 3 - 1 victory against Kilmarnock at Fir Park. He has kept a good running losing just 2 matches both against Hibernian on 5th December 2009. Gannon has recently had a massive fall out with the Scottish referees and Hugh Dallas with numerous decisions going against the Well.[18]. On 28 December 2009 Gannon was sacked by Motherwell having threatened to resign the Saturday before. This brought to an end an unhappy spell for Gannon where he failed to settle in Scotland and brought to a head weeks of dissatisfaction with the Scottish football scene in general. Motherwell cited that Gannon was "not fully committed to the club" as the reason for their decision. No other club or Manager was involved in either Gannon's or Motherwell's decision.

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.[19] 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.[20] Gannon was left threatening police action over a strong challenge that left Stockport striker Matty McNeil unconscious and in hospital.[21]

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.[22][23]

His open nature has also drawn criticism 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.[24] 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.[25]

Gannon was sent to the stand in Motherwell's Europa League match against Steaua Bucharest; however Gannon has stated he did not know why he, or his assistant manager were sent off by Spanish referee Carlos Clos Gomez.[26]

Honours

As a player

As a manager

Managerial stats

As of 28 December 2009
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Dundalk Republic of Ireland 8 June 2004 14 November 2005 57 19 16 22 33.3
Stockport County England 28 December 2005 6 May 2009 182 79 42 61 43.4
Motherwell Scotland 30 June 2009 28 December 2009 9 3 2 4 33.3

References

  1. ^ "What A Weird Weah To Start". Sunday Mirror, 6 August 2000.
  2. ^ "Reds so close to glamour tie with Boavista". The Mirror, 18 July 2002.
  3. ^ "Dundalk manager hands in resignation". RTÉ Sport, 14 November 2005.
  4. ^ "Ireland Republic Division One 2005 Table". Soccerway, 19 November 2005.
  5. ^ "Table at the time of Gannon's appointment". StockportMAD, 17 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Stockport 3-2 Rochdale". BBC Sport, 26 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Gannon Emerges". Sky Sports, 12 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Football League One Table". 20 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Official Approach For Gannon". Stockportcounty.com. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  10. ^ "New Brighton Manager set to be Jim Gannon". Online-betting-guide.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  11. ^ "Knight setback as Gannon says no". Theargus.co.uk. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  12. ^ "Gannon will have done his homework". Theargus.co.uk. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  13. ^ "Albion ace backs Gannon". Theargus.co.uk. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Gannon leaves as Stockport boss". BBC Sport. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Motherwell confirm Gannon as boss". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Gannon targets England for talent". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  17. ^ "Motherwell 0-1 Llanelli". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Llanelli 0-3 Motherwell (1-3)". BBC Sport. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  19. ^ "Double whammy angers Gannon". Manchester Evening News, 22 March 2007.
  20. ^ "Get set for a thriller". Stockport Express, 26 March 2008.
  21. ^ "Hatters take Reid evidence to police". Teamtalk.com, 20 October 2008.
  22. ^ "City offer imminent". Manchester Evening News, 20 December 2006.
  23. ^ "Liverpool snatch youngster". Stockport Express, 15 June 2007.
  24. ^ "Gannon wants Owen apology". Manchester Evening News, 1 October 2008.
  25. ^ "County plan new Gannon deal". Manchester Evening News, 13 November 2008.
  26. ^ "Gannon criticises referee display". BBC Sport, 7 August 2009.
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