Gannon's credentials as a rising star of management are well established after his successes with Stockport County.
He later managed Port Vale and Peterborough United having also advanced his career north of the border after a spell with Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.
Gannon - a holder of a full UEFA Pro Licence - was revered at Edgeley Park as both player and manager.
Following 10 years as a goalscoring centre half, Jim returned to lead County into League One - from the brink of demotion from the Football League.
Having cut his managerial teeth with Irish side Dundalk - also his first club as a player - Gannon took caretaker charge of Stockport as Chris Turner's successor in 2005. The team were then bottom of League Two but rallied under the man affectionately known as "Jimbo" who, after landing the job, finally beat the drop on the last day of the season.
The following year, Stockport established a League record of nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal, but missed a play-off place on goal difference despite a 5-0 last-day win over Darlington.
In 2007-08 Gannon's team finished fourth and won promotion with a 3-2 triumph over Rochdale in the play-off final at Wembley. It was his fifth visit to the stadium, following four appearances with County as a player.
Jim was offered the Brighton job in February, 2009 but stayed loyal despite Stockport's mounting financial problems. He kept the club in League One but was made redundant after the club went into administration, which alerted Motherwell.
Gannon won 79 of his 182 matches with the Hatters, a victory ratio of 43.4%. As a player, he made 479 appearances with the club - third in Stockport's all-time list - and scored 65 goals.
He then parted company with Peterborough deciding not to extend his contract in April 2010 before the club appointed Gary Johnson as their permanent manager.
He was then confirmed as the new manager of Port Vale on January 6, 2011. He remained with the club until March 2011 before he re-joined Stockport during the 2011/12 campaign.
He was most recently manager of Northwich Victoria.
Gannon was born in London before moving to Ireland with his family at an early age. There, he completed an accountancy course and won two League of Ireland championships with Shelbourne - either side of playing for Sheffield United and Stockport.
