JIM Gannon has been appointed Motherwell manager ending weeks of speculation linking the Irishman with a return to Stockport County.

With the prospect of Gannon returning gone, former Juventus and Middlesbrough striker Fabrizio Ravanelli has been linked with the County role.

The 40-year-old Italian, who retired from playing in 2005, currently works as a TV pundit but is rumoured to be keen on a career in management.

While the prospect of the 'White Feather' leading the Hatters may appeal to County fans, Gannon's decision underlines the serious situation at the club.

Axed by administrators for the cash-strapped Edgeley Park outfit at the end of the 2008-09 season, a consortium of local businessmen had indicated they would reinstate the Irishman should their bid to take over the club be successful.

Former City player Jim Melrose, head of a rival consortium, was also expected to include Gannon on his shortlist for the manager's role.

Consortium

Two weeks ago, administrators announced a deal had been struck with Melrose to buy County - subject to approval from Edgeley Park landlord Sale Sharks.

However, that approval has yet to be granted and talks with the Melrose consortium stalled last week.

Amid such uncertainty at Stockport, the offer to join a team playing Europa League football proved too strong for Gannon, who recently turned down an offer to take over at Brighton in the hope things would be sorted out for him to return to County.

The 40-year-old spent 10 years at the club as a player and guided County to League One promotion via the play-offs last summer.

With many first-team squads returning for pre-season training over the next week, the situation at Stockport is desperate and they face the prospect of kicking off the 2009-10 campaign with no board, no manager and a seriously depleted first-team squad.

The Hatters were forced to sell key players Gary Dicker and James Tunnicliffe to Brighton last week to cut costs.

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