GANNON HAS EYE OF THE TIGERS...
JIM Gannon says his shock Stockport County sacking re-energised him to continue his management career after being appointed at Hyde United.
The 52-year-old saw his third spell in charge of the Hatters come to an end in January.
Gannon, during his five years, took the club into the National League and were in the promotion mix having also reached the FA Cup third round.
Gannon became manager of the football education programme at League Two side Oldham Athletic this summer but was keen to balance the role with a part-time job in senior football.
NPL Premier club Hyde had over 40 applicants for the job and unanimously backed Gannon to take them forward, who had no doubts about taking the position.
Growth
“Sometimes you can get burnt-out in management and it really can make you disillusioned – and I’ve had times like that,” Gannon told The NLP. “When I left Stockport the second time and Port Vale it was difficult times for me and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be involved in football.
“But this time when I left Stockport I was really enjoying being manager. We’d had five years of continued growth, we’d just played West Ham in the FA Cup and beat Dagenham and then you lose your job and it is disappointing.
“I didn’t feel disillusioned with the game, I felt very energised and I felt I could be very proud of the work I did. I hadn’t lost any faith in myself as a manager.
“So I just had to wait patiently to find an opportunity at a good club that has a similar thinking as myself and I can enjoy a coaching journey with that club.”
Gannon managed Northwich Victoria at Step 4 in the NPL having experienced a range of different divisions from the League of Ireland to the Football League’s Championship. Dropping two levels to Hyde wasn’t an issue.
Recognise
“I’m probably unusual in my ability to adapt and to accept each level,” said Gannon. “You have to work intelligently and efficiently and recognise the level of players and adapt your coaching to be successful at that level.”
Gannon is also excited by the supporter-owned Tigers’ outlook towards youth and community.
“The great thing for me is it’s a very stable club, it’s not a club in turmoil,” he added. “The Hyde United grassroots project is blossoming, there’s players come from the youth teams and U21 teams.
“It’s a very healthy community club at the moment and I think any ambition I have will have to be built with those principles in mind and based upon organic growth and efficient recruitment.”