Former Stockport manager Jim Gannon is hopeful the troubled League One club can safeguard its future.

Gannon, who also spent 10 years as a player at Edgeley Park, was made redundant by County's administrators in May.

He had been tipped to return once a proposed takeover deal by the Melrose consortium is completed, but that prospect ended following his appointment at Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell.

Gannon, who guided County to promotion to League One via the play-offs in May 2008, said: "Stockport for me was a fantastic experience.

"We had some amazing moments, we looked like certainties to go out of the league and kept them in. We got to the play-offs, got to Wembley and got promoted. It was a fantastic journey.

"It was disappointing how it all ended and I wish them all well, but strange circumstances left me looking for a new challenge. I'm looking forward to using all that experience of the difficult times to really enjoy this job and bring the best out of the players here."