Jim Gannon returns to Stockport County for third stint as manager
The Hatters legend has left his post at Northwich Victoria to link up with the Edgeley Park club once again
Jim Gannon has been appointed Stockport County manager for a third time
Jim Gannon has sensationally returned to Stockport County for a third stint in charge of the National League North side.
The 47-year-old will be in the hotseat for Saturday's trip to Gloucester in the league, after departing the managerial position at Northwich Victoria to once again link up with The Hatters.
Southwark-born Gannon replaces former boss Neil Young, who resigned from his position at Edgeley Park last week after a run of just one win in 12 games.
Gannon is a club legend around Edgeley Park, after making more than 350 appearances for County as a player in the 1990s followed by a successful managerial stint in which he saved the club from relegation into non-league football in 2006 - before guiding a young Hatters side to a Wembley League Two play-off promotion in 2008.
The Irishman left in 2009 after being made redundant by club administrators as the then-League One club hit financial troubles, having taken County from the bottom of League Two to the play-off places of England's third division, above the likes of Leeds Utd.
Ex-Stockport manager Neil Young resigned last week
Spells at Motherwell, Peterborough and Port Vale followed before Gannon was re-appointed in 2011 following Didi Hamann's Edgeley Park exit as The Hatters languished in the lower reaches of the National League.
The former Crewe defender once again saved the club from relegation, this time into the National League North, before eventually being sacked in 2013 as County sat just outside the relegation places.
Many Hatters supporters still called for a return of the man whom they call 'The Ghost' - due to his nature as a player of ghosting in at the far post to score more 50 goals for County - as they believed his work was hampered by budget restrictions, but three more managers came through the doors at Edgeley Park as County slid into the sixth tier of English football.
Meanwhile, Gannon took charge of Northern Premier League Division One North side Northwich Victoria, enjoying success at Wincham Park as he guided the Cheshire side into the play-offs last season - and the ex-Shelbourne man now leaves the Vics in 2nd place of the division.
Gannon's first port of call as the new County boss will be a trip to Congleton Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup tomorrow night.
