from Woodley Sports for a nominal fee just over two years previous. 2008–09 Gannon led County to an impressive start to the season following their promotion, and they spent Christmas in the play-off places with the best away record in the division. The new year started uncomfortably for Gannon; with media speculation linking him with a move away from Edgeley Park, and the club announcing they were in financial difficulty, he took interviews reassuring fans of his intent to stick by County. Gannon stuck to his one-year rolling deal after rejecting new contract offers from the club. After a touch-line argument with then-club captain Gareth Owen, Gannon gave a forthright interview explaining that disciplinary action would be taken, and Owen would be stripped of the captaincy. Owen, who was later released by the club, did not play another game for County. Meanwhile, Gannon was left threatening police action over a strong challenge that left Stockport striker Matty McNeil unconscious and in hospital. On 24 February 2009 Stockport agreed to allow Gannon to hold talks with Brighton & Hove Albion, who were seeking to fill the managerial position left vacant by Micky Adams. He suggested that his family would play a large part in his decision to move clubs, with Stockport's financial troubles looming but uprooting his family to move to Brighton being undesirable. Gannon was made favourite to be given the job by several bookmakers, and he met with Brighton chairman Dick Knight on the 25th, before announcing on the 26th that he had chosen not to take the job. Knight had indicated that Gannon was his first choice for the job, and former Stockport players now at Brighton had shown their desire for Gannon to be given the job. However, Gannon turned down the opportunity and vowed stay with at the Edgeley Park club. During the final weeks of the season, County were placed into Administration and docked 10 points, leaving them placed dangerously close to the relegation places. On 6 May 2009, soon after the final game of the season, Gannon was made redundant as manager of Stockport along with assistant boss Peter Ward. This was done by the administrators in order to slash the wage bill. Motherwell As speculation of a move to Hibernian came to nothing (despite his being installed as the bookmaker's favourite), Gannon instead was confirmed as manager of Scottish Premier League side Motherwell