Gritty Gannon unfazed by prospect of rebuilding depleted Motherwell

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 00:02

MOTHERWELL unveiled new manager Jim Gannon yesterday and club officials were perhaps heartened to observe that the new recruit chose to meet reporters while sitting at the table provided, rather than under it. Today is the eve of the start of Motherwell's competitive season and there is no doubt that the Fir Park club could be better prepared. But at least they now have a manager in situ, and one who isn't known for shirking a challenge.

Like Tony Mowbray, Gannon was a no-nonsense centre-half in his days as a player, and like the new Celtic manager he has developed a reputation for building teams which play attractive football. He is aware, however, that at Motherwell he has to walk before he can run. First of all he simply needs to find a team.

Only 12 Motherwell first-team players were left to be registered with Uefa last week, ahead of tomorrow night's Europa League first round qualifying match with Welsh club Llanelli. The remaining bodies required to make up the squad have been drawn from the under-19 team. Motherwell cannot even play tomorrow's 'home' leg at home due to work being carried out on the Fir Park pitch, and so have rented Airdrie's Shyberry Excelsior stadium.

Gannon, 40, will kick off his Motherwell career in circumstances which can hardly be termed ideal, and even he admitted that his initial training sessions with the squad have been "quiet". There is simply not the weight of numbers to create the volume normally reached by a group of footballers, while the loss of such vital players as David Clarkson and Stephen Hughes has also been a blow to morale. Paul Quinn, who is set to sign for Cardiff, is another who might have left before tomorrow night's game. Saturday's loss to Welsh Premier League side Rhyl can also not have helped spirits ahead of a meeting with another team from the league.

Gannon emphasised that little could be read into a game which simply served as a gentle re-introduction to football, even if it seems as though so little time has passed since Motherwell wrapped up last season with a 2-1 defeat against Kilmarnock. During the subsequent weeks Motherwell have managed to temper the joy at qualifying for Europe through the Fair Play award system.

Anticipation was replaced with trepidation as key personnel could not be persuaded to stay by the promise of another European adventure. Manager Mark McGhee left for Aberdeen, along with his assistant Scott Leitch. A raft of players have also headed through the exit door – some at Motherwell's behest, some due to their contracts having expired, and others, as in the case of Clarkson, because an acceptable offer was received. Some of the 800,000 which Bristol City spent for his services will help Gannon build his own side, but he has already identified youngsters at the club who can make the step up. "There's a fantastic opportunity for them to come forward over the next six to 12 months," he said. "I certainly don't want to bring players in who will smother their opportunity."

Chairman John Boyle revealed Gannon's knowledge of the English transfer market was crucial to his appointment. He said: "We had a high calibre of candidate and Jim Gannon was just absolutely outstanding.

"I think his tactical grasp is first class, and he has got a real good working knowledge, especially in the English league. At a club like Motherwell, the nurturing of young players is absolutely of the essence. Clearly one of his successes is doing that."

Rather than being cowed by the task ahead, Gannon is inspired by it, pointing out that the challenge is dwarfed by the one which faced him when he rejoined struggling Stockport County as manager midway through the 2004-2005 season. He was charged with keeping the club in the Football League, and somehow did. It is because of such achievements that his reputation steadily grew at Stockport.

Gannon admitted that it came as a huge surprise to hear he and assistant Peter Ward had become victims of the club's administrators earlier this summer.

"When we took over at Stockport we were seven points adrift at the bottom of the league," he explained. "There was no attractiveness to the club whatsoever for experienced players. So to try and turn around a string of results and double the points tally was hard. Then we were able to set about rebuilding. We understand the challenges at Motherwell but I don't see this as a massive one because the money is there to bring players in."

Gannon was honest about his background, which some might not regard as stellar. As well as managing at Stockport, he has taken charge of Dundalk. Spells with Sheffield United and Shelbourne bookended a ten-year stay at Stockport, where he made nearly 500 appearances.

Motherwell will hope that his recruitment will prove to be their gain and Hibs' loss. Gannon was linked with the Easter Road club earlier this summer following Mixu Paatelainen's resignation, but Hibs opted for John Hughes instead.

"It's a strange one because I didn't apply for the (Hibs] job," explained Gannon. "I got recommended to it. I met with them informally and then more formally, but then they decided to go for Mr Hughes."