New Motherwell manager Jim Gannon is hoping to bring in up to six players - most of them from England - to bolster a squad threadbare after summer exits.

"I won't dismiss what's up in Scotland," said Gannon, who revealed that he had been headhunted by Well. "I am sure there is quality up here.

"But there's a lot of good players in England who would do a fantastic job for Motherwell.

"What we need to do is recruit them and make sure they do a good job for us."

Gannon, who describes himself as an Irishman born in London, had considered taking time out of the game after being made redundant in May after four years with Stockport County when the League One outfit went into administration.

But the 40-year-old was interviewed for the manager's vacancy at Hibernian before John Hughes was appointed and was attracted to the thought of testing himself in the Scottish Premier League and in European football.

England is a big football pool and someone with an in-depth knowledge of that is a particularly good asset Motherwell chairman John Boyle

"Through a combination of different factors, they enquired and did their research and came headhunting," said Gannon, who was being tipped for a return to Stockport once a takeover was in place.

"I had the opportunity to step out the game and assess where I wanted to go, but I couldn't turn down a fantastic opportunity to coach at such a high level."

Gannon was on a shortlist along with former Northern Ireland and Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez, ex-Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd and former Republic of Ireland head coach Steve Staunton.

"It's fantastic to come out after all those candidates," said Gannon, who began his managerial career at Dundalk.

He revealed that Motherwell were looking for someone whose teams played good football, who could work within budgets and who could develop players.

"We want to play football, we play different shapes and we like players with mobility and purpose," Gannon told BBC Scotland.

"We don't over-play, but we like to be constructive and create openings."

Gannon's first game in charge is on Thursday against Llanelli in the first qualifying round of the Europa Cup, which Motherwell qualified for because of their good disciplinary record.

"We won the Fair Play award at Dundalk and we won the Fair Play award with Stockport last year," he said.

"Stockport for me was a fantastic experience. We had some amazing moments, we looked like certainties to go out of the league and kept them in. We got to the play-offs, got to Wembley and got promoted. It was a fantastic journey.

"It was disappointing how it all ended and I wish them all well, but strange circumstances left me looking for a new challenge."

Motherwell chairman John Boyle had been delighted with calibre of the candidates for the job and highlighted Gannon's qualities.

"He has a very very good tactical sense, he is a great motivator of players, he works particularly well with young players and brings them on, which is important at a club the size of Motherwell, and he has boundless enthusiasm," he said.

Aberdeen, to whom Motherwell lost Mark McGhee, and Hibernian had turned to former players and Scots as their new managers.

But Boyle said: "We have always been an inventive club and I don't care where the candidate comes from.

"However, England is a big football pool and someone with an in-depth knowledge of that is a particularly good asset."

Boyle insisted that, despite the collapse of the Scottish Premier League's broadcasting deal with Setanta, his club were in a good financial position.

With the departure of several out-of-contract players and the sale of striker David Clarkson to Bristol City this week, Motherwell could begin their European campaign with just 11 experienced first-team players.

However, Boyle said there were funds for Gannon to make up to six signings and, while the manager himself was not setting any targets for the SPL season, the chairman was looking for a top-six finish.

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