Gannon realistic over Posh challenge

Posted Tuesday, February 02, 2010 by PA

New Peterborough manager Jim Gannon has set himself the challenge of bringing back "credibility and respect" to the Coca-Cola Championship strugglers after a difficult few months at London Road.

Gannon, 41, was named as the third manager of a troubled season early Tuesday morning to follow in the footsteps of Darren Ferguson and Mark Cooper and finds Posh rooted to the foot of the table with just 18 games left.

He said: "I see it as a fantastic challenge. I want to bring back some credibility and respect to the club and we need to start winning some games."

The former Stockport and Motherwell boss has signed a deal until the end of the season after Cooper was axed on Monday after winning just one of his 13 games in charge and is under no illusions as to the size of the task at hand.

He added: "I'm an optimist and a realist and I don't expect us to win 12 or 13 games but I am here to make a difference.

"I'm responsible for the next 18 games and I will work very hard to ensure that relegation does not hang over me. I am a long-term thinker but I am here to do a short-term job."

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony admitted the appointment of Kettering boss Cooper was a mistake but has banked on Gannon to pull off a miracle and keep the club in the division.

Gannon kept Stockport in the Football League in 2006 after taking over in similar circumstances and he believes a repeat performance is possible.

Gannon said: "Every club has its issues behind the scenes. There are always players who want to be somewhere else so I don't see anything untoward going on here.

"Team spirit has obviously been eroded over the last six months and the only way to get that back is by working hard and getting results."