same referee was allowed to take charge of the postponed fixture, which Rovers won 2–1. Gannon also branded approaches from Manchester City and Liverpool questionable and unprofessional after the two Premier League clubs swooped for youngsters being trained in Stockport County's development squads. During the season, Gannon and Stockport began to form a close relationship with Alan Lord, the founder of Football Development School ProFootball4u. Anthony Pilkington, who began to feature in County's first team in the second half of this season, was developed through Lord's school. At the end of the season, Lord was taken on at County as a scout and development team coach; he would later follow Gannon to Motherwell. County missed out on the League Two play-offs due to results on the final day of the season, missing out on goal difference despite a 5–0 victory over Darlington. 2007–08 The 2007–08 season started with a friendly marking the death of Danny Bergara, the manager who had brought Gannon to County as a player in 1990. The friendly was against Cardiff City, managed by Dave Jones, who also managed County whilst Gannon was a player at the club. On 12 February, Gannon had to leave his father critically ill in hospital in Ireland to lead his team out to a 4–1 victory over Rotherham United. Later in the year Gannon publicly criticised Paul Ince and the MK Dons after he felt the "Dons" were poor sports in their 3–2 victory over County that ensured Ince's side promotion out of the division. County finished the 2007–08 season fourth in the league, and subsequently won their play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 on aggregate. The club had previously visited Wembley four times, and Gannon had played on all four occasions. He did as a manager what he could never do as a player, and guided Stockport victory at Wembley; the 3–2 win over Rochdale earned Gannon's club promotion to League One. He refused to give a post-match interview to Sky Sports following a nine-month dispute with the company over a broken Skybox. Nevertheless, having quickly taken Stockport from the foot of League Two and into League One on a meagre budget, Gannon had established himself as one of the most highly rated young managers in the lower leagues. In the summer he sold Liam Dickinson to Derby County for £750,000 – a player signed by previous manager, Chris Turner