New boss is promising new talent at Fir Park

Jul 2 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL boss Jim Gannon this week pledged to bring in up to six English players as he starts the rebuilding job at Fir Park.

Gannon (40), was officially unveiled on Tuesday as Mark McGhee’s successor and is in no doubt that he has a job on his hands after several high-profile players left the club during the summer, including top scorer David Clarkson who this week joined Bristol City in a £600,000 three-year deal.

He will be followed out of the Fir Park exit door by former captain Paul Quinn with Cardiff City and Hearts reportedly favourites to sign him.

Gannon said: “The more I talk to people about the guys that have gone from here the more I realise they were fantastic players, and it’s very important that the club strengthens.

“I’m a great believer in youth development and allowing young players an opportunity to go into the team.

“There are some kids at Motherwell that I’ve already got a good feel for and I like, and surprisingly they’ve not been there or thereabouts.

“It’s important that we don’t suffocate the potential at the club, but I think it’s clear to everybody that we do need to strengthen.

“Finances are dire and we’re not going to spend a lot of money on wages or fees. We have to buy shrewdly, that’s where we’ve got to use all of our contacts and experience down south, to make sure we get three, four, five or six players perhaps coming north that we feel can do a fantastic job for this club.

“Hopefully that, and the quality we have at the club, will see us competing.”

He added: “I think it’s important that players know they’ve got a clean slate here. It’s important that players feel they’re wanted at the club.

“With a new manager coming in they’ll want to impress, but more importantly they want to know if anything they do WILL impress the manager.

“I’m open-minded but I think the players want somebody coming in to give them some leadership, direction, organise them and, if you like, help them get the best out of themselves.”

Gannon and assistant Peter Ward will be thrown in at the deep end tonight (Thursday), as Motherwell take on Welsh Premier League side Llanelli in the Europa League first qualifying round at Airdrie United’s Shyberry Excelsior Stadium.

The former Dundalk defender knows it’s important to get off to a good start and said: “Fans want to see success and first impressions last.

“I’ve met a couple of fans. They seem very passionate, and there’s a natural expectation of what they want from us against a team they’ve perhaps never heard of before, but Llanelli are a decent side.

“They have a lot of experienced players that have probably got more games under their belts than our boys.

“But I would like to think we’ll have a professional edge, a little bit more energy and fitness and what’s important is we make that show on Thursday night.

“I want us to play with a good work ethic, be very positive, and play good football. I think the fans will judge us on that as much as the result.”

Jim admitted the idea of joining Motherwell grew on him and is excited about what he can bring to the club.

He said: “The offer came very much out of the blue but the more I thought about it and got to meet people the more I realised that it is very much like the clubs I’ve been used to working with.

“Motherwell is very homely, friendly and welcoming. People want you to do well.

“The club plays in the SPL, has got a fantastic profile and it’s a fantastic challenge through from the top sides in Glasgow down to the bottom – and it offers European football.

“As a manager who likes to think of himself as open-minded and progressive I thought it would be a great experience.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing what I have to this club abd hopefully over the course of the season the supporters will see a team that goes about its business well, tries to play good football, works hard, is positive and very professional – and we hope that will bring the goals and excitement the fans crave.”

Motherwell’s ‘home’ tie against Llanelli – which has been moved to Airdrie due to extensive work on the Fir Park pitch – kicks off at 8.05pm tonight (Thursday).