IN A week that has seen Stockport County boss Jim Gannon linked with two other managerial vacancies, the popular Irishman has reaffirmed his commitment to the Edgeley Park club.

Speaking exclusively to the Stockport Express, Gannon dismissed links with jobs at Blackpool and Derby County as merely ‘speculation’.

However, while he insists he wants to stay at County, with promotion to the Championship still a burning ambition, the word from the board was a little less convincing.

In a club statement from County chairman Martin Reid on Monday, the possibility of a managerial change was openly discussed, with Reid stating: "County would support him [Gannon] wholeheartedly in securing a move which his achievements merit."

It’s clear that Gannon is keen to stay at County, but with Monday’s statement also revealing that the club is currently experiencing ‘challenging financial times’, then the probable sale of some ‘irreplaceable’ players this month could hinder hopes of a Championship promotion push either this season or next.

Gannon told us: "The speculation regarding my position has been ongoing for several months now. Recently my name has crept onto betting lists and supposed club ‘shortlists’ for several openings at Championship level.

"I can’t say at this point that the interest is flattering as the links are purely driven by bookies and journalists. I guess as each job is filled, the speculation will fall away.

"I appreciate the goodwill contained in the recent statements from the club. However, it is not quite right to say that I want a Championship job or seek to further my own ambitions.

"It is worth restating for clarity that my ambition as a manager has been purely driven by the determination to progress this club. I have always been clear that my ambitions were for this club to grow to Championship level. I have stated consistently that I want to take the club as far as it can go.

"Only then will I have the difficult decision between managing a club stabilising itself at its maximum level, or seeking a new challenge that stretches me. I guess the most difficult question to answer is, what is Stockport County’s level?"

Gannon added: "We have come a long way in the last three years and I am very proud of how far we have come, and how we have achieved it.

"We have become genuine contenders for a play-off position in League One, and given the potential growth of the large number of talented players within the club there has been optimism that we could fulfil our vision of rising from the very bottom of the Football League to the Championship.

"This growth has continued despite the enforced sales of several talented young players including Ashley Williams and Liam Dickinson (for combined fees which have already raised over a million pounds in the last year alone).

"Eventually the continual loss of irreplaceable players will undermine our competitiveness and erode our opportunity to become a Championship club within the next 18 months.

"However, what is of paramount importance is the existence of the club as a business, and that stability may come at the price of unfulfilled success.

"I have always respected the club’s financial position, and have consistently worked within the parameters of the playing budget provided.

"Recent constructive meetings with the chairman have provided a clear picture of the financial situation of the club.

"In light of this information, I have presented a detailed business plan which will act as the framework to protect the club’s financial position for the remainder of the season, and will go a long way to safeguard the proposed playing budget for the foreseeable future.

"This will provide the club with the necessary time to fulfil the medium-term ambition to restructure the club."