Gannon's first task will be a Europa League tie again Llanelly
By Colin Moffat
A lot of Motherwell fans will be asking 'Jim who?' now the club have made public the fact that Jim Gannon has verbally accepted the manager's role at Fir Park.
The 40-year-old was made redundant when Stockport went into administration in April, having taken over at the Hatters in December 2005.
The former defender was a huge fans' favourite at the club, playing close to 500 times for the Edgeley Park outfit before making the step-up to management and guiding the club from the League Two drop zone into League One on a shoe-string budget.
In February he rejected a chance to become Brighton manager and he was on Hibernian's radar before John Hughes was given the job at Easter Road.
A qualified accountant, Gannon's arithmetic skills won't exactly be challenged by the scale of the squad he inherits.
A previously small Fir Park pool is threadbare now that Graeme Smith, Steven Hughes, Bob Malcolm and Brian McLean are out of contract, while loan deals have expired for Maros Klimpl, Cillian Sheridan and Artur Krysiak.
Motherwell have accepted an offer for Scotland striker David Clarkson from Bristol City and defender Paul Quinn is attracting interest from Cardiff and Hearts.
Gannon will hope to see some of the money raised from any sales but he is used to wheeling and dealing in the bargain basement, which must have appealed to the Fir Park board.
Derek McInnes was a team-mate of Gannon's during a loan period at Stockport and the St Johnstone manager reckons Motherwell have made an astute appointment.
"Jim was very quiet," he told BBC Scotland. "He wasn't playing all the time; he was in and out of the side.
"He seemed like a studious type and kept himself to himself. He didn't have much to say but he seemed like a nice, decent fellow.
"It seemed like he was a deep thinker about the game and he has gone on to prove successful in his time at Stockport.
"He has some good players to work with at Motherwell and I'm sure he will do well there.
"He has the experience of working with budgets and working at that level, he has been at a club who went into administration and had a lot of off-field problems."
McInnes added: "He will bring all that experience with him.
"He is still relatively young as well so I'm sure he will be a success."
Gannon was not so quiet once his managerial career got under way, as he endeared himself further to fans at Edgeley Park by regularly joining in with their songs.
Born in London, Gannon moved to Ireland as a child and began his career with Dundalk, where he also took his first steps in management.
He also had spells as a player at Sheffield United, Crewe and Shelbourne, where he scored in a Champions League qualifier and featured in Uefa Cup games.
His first task at Motherwell will be on the European stage, as the Steelmen take on Llanelli in the opening qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday.
Gannon won't have time to get to know his players but picking a team should be straightforward, given the limited numbers available to him.
Under-19s will have to be drafted in to make up the match-day squad and they have a chance to impress a manager who has not been afraid to pitch in youngsters.
Motherwell fans enjoyed positive, attacking football during Mark McGhee's two seasons in charge and Gannon's track record suggests he will carry on in similar fashion.
However, with big gaps to fill in the squad, he needs time and resources. Gannon may be a mystery man to most in Scotland but he's no superhero.
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