HATTERS’ GANNON PASSION FOR CUP

MANAGER Jim Gannon’s love for Stockport County, despite being sacked twice, sees the National League North outfit potentially just a game away from a dream FA Cup third-round clash.

The Hatters were dubbed the mad Hatters by many County fans when they dispensed of the popular Gannon’s managerial services five years ago as he tried to resurrect their fortunes after dropping out of the Football League.

It was his second sacking – club administrators making Gannon redundant in 2009 when Stockport were in danger of folding.

But in January 2016 he answered the call to return after Stockport had slipped even lower in football’s pyramid, into the sixth tier.

It was an incredible decline in their fortunes – in 2002 they were playing in the Championship.

The fact that he also made almost 400 appearances as a player in a decade at Edgeley Park illustrates his affection for a club determined to bring Football League action back to an area dominated by the two Manchester giants, United and City.

“It’s a club that is and will remain forever in my blood,”said Gannon.

“There is a great fan base and huge potential and they deserve to be watching League football again.

“There are people running the club now who, although they are ambitious, understand what is needed to help bring back some of the good times we have enjoyed in the past here.

“At some away games our supporters, who always turn up in numbers, appear to take over the ground, which is fantastic for the players.”

Today, around 1,500 of them will follow their side to Barnet in the FA Cup second round – around

500 are still telling tales of their 3-1 first-round victory at League Two Yeovil Town.

Now it’s a National League side who stand in their path, with 50-year-old Gannon (above) stating: “We’re going down there feeling good about ourselves. Some of the players will be gobsmacked at the support we will have at Barnet.

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