SHOCK DEPARTURE
How the axe fell on Stockport County boss Jim Gannon
STOCKPORT County say the sensational decision to part company with club legend boss Jim Gannon was “centred around culture” and not recent results.
Earlier this month, the 52-year-old celebrated his 500th game in charge of the Hatters – spanning three separate spells as manager – and leaves Edgeley Park with his legendary status still very much intact having also made also 400 Football League appearances for the club.
And he was in the process of leading Stockport to their highest league position since dropping out of the top-four tiers for the first time in their history in 2011 when the axe was wielded.
A 2-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night took the Hatters up to fourth in the National League table, 11 points behind leaders Torquay United with two games in hand.
Gannon also took Stockport to the FA Cup third round just two weeks ago where they were narrowly edged out 1-0 by Premier League giants West Ham United in front of the live BT Sport cameras.
A club statement read: “Stockport County Football Club have today parted company with manager Jim Gannon.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision for the club’s board to take and not a decision taken lightly. The decision is not results based but is centred around culture.
“We thank Jim for his longstanding service to the club as both player and manager; he has rightfully been immortalised into the club’s Hall of Fame and will al- ways be a huge part of County’s history. “We want to reassure fans that every decision made, we believe to be in the best longterm interests of the club.” Gannon’s first spell in charge of the Hatters spanned from 2005 to 2009 before going on to manage Motherwell, Peterborough United and Port Vale.
He returned following their demotion into Non-League but left again in January 2013 with the club sitting in the relegation zone.
Platform
By the time he came back for a third spell in January 2016, Stockport were in National League North but Gannon set about leading turning around the club’s fortunes
After year-on-year improvement, he finally led them to the league title in 2019 and only missed out on a play-off spot in his first season back in the fifth tier last season on points-per-game calculation.
The takeover of local businessman and long-serving fan Mark Stott last January gave the club a new lease of life and Gannon a platform to launch a serious promotion push this time round.
A plethora of top summer signings raised eyebrows and Gannon set about justifying Stockport’s tag as favourites for the title.
He tweeted: “Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all for all the tremendous support I have received in recent days and throughout this brilliant five years. The depth of feeling has been overwhelming and I take great comfort from your kindness and generosity.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. We have come a long way and the club is now set for a bright future.”
Simon Rusk, coach of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Under 23 side, is among the favourites to take the job fulltime.