Stockport County

Stockport bring in keeper Jones
Stockport boss Jim Gannon has eased his goalkeeping crisis by signing Blackburn youngster Zac Jones on loan. Gannon was forced into making the swoop for the 19-year-old when Chris Adamson was ruled out for six weeks after breaking a finger during training. Jones has never played a first-team game for Mark Hughes' Rovers but spent a three-month loan spell at Southampton in 2005. He was included in the squad that drew 1-1 with Grimsby, but did not figure.

Ankle injury sidelines Pilkington
Stockport have been dealt a further injury blow with winger Anthony Pilkington facing a month out after suffering an ankle injury in training. The 19-year-old joins goalkeeper Chris Adamson (finger) and midfielder Dominic Blizzard (hamstring) on the sidelines. County manager Jim Gannon told the club's website: "He's strained the ligaments on the outside of his ankle. "It's a big blow to the lad who was just starting to show the form that made us sign him."

Gannon concerned at Taylor blow
Stockport boss Jim Gannon was concerned after losing midfielder Jason Taylor to an ankle injury in their 2-0 victory at Cheshire rivals Macclesfield. Taylor limped off after 71 minutes, and Gannon explained: "He's gone over on his ankle, so he's a big doubt for Saturday's game with Grimsby. "Macclesfield played really well in the first half, and they stretched us. "In the second half we gave the front players much better service, although we had to work for the clean sheet."

Hatters to re-sign Liverpool man
Stockport County have secured a loan deal to bring Liverpool defender Jamie Smith back for the rest of the season. Smith, who played a dozen games on loan for the Hatters between August and November, will be eligible to play from 2 January. "I was made up with everything at County when I was here and I didn't want to leave. I'm made up to be back," he told Stockport's website. The 22-year-old has made one senior appearance for Liverpool. Smith has come through Liverpool's youth system and also had a loan spell at Ross County at the start of the year.

Gannon encouraged by Elding form
Stockport boss Jim Gannon praised striker Anthony Elding after he scored for the third successive game in their 2-1 win at Notts County. "Anthony has been exceptional in training - his attitude and work-rate are second to none," he said. "He was low on confidence when we left him out, but he's recivered well and seized his opportunity. "He works his socks off and scores goals - he's done it again today and I'm delighted for him."

County push Pools on Elding fee
Stockport have told Hartlepool they must improve their offer for goalscorer Anthony Elding to stand a chance of signing him. The League One club have made an undisclosed offer for County's top scorer. Elding has already scored 14 goals for the Edgeley Park club this season. Meanwhile County's deputy boss Peter Ward has said the weather break has given them the chance to increase the amount of players' coaching time. "We're not the finished article yet by any means but the lads are full of confidence after winning four games on the bounce and the training sessions have really gone up a gear," he told SSB.

Ellison set for Stockport return
Stockport County have agreed a deal with Chester City to bring Kevin Ellison back to Edgeley Park. The 28-year-old winger is expected to arrive on loan until the end of the season, before signing a permanent contract in the summer. Football League clubs can sign players on loan once seven days have elapsed from the end of the transfer window. Ellison originally joined Stockport in November 2001 and went on to make 52 appearances for the Hatters. He is currently serving a three-match ban after being sent off in the 4-0 defeat by Rochdale on 29 January. Chester hope to replace Ellison with former Cardiff and Stockport winger Kevin Cooper, 32, who is due to hold talks following his release by Cardiff last week.

Gannon confident of Ellison move
Stockport County boss Jim Gannon has revived hopes that winger Kevin Ellison's proposed move from Chester City will still go ahead. He told SSB: "I think Chester are happy enough to let him go and he's happy to come to Edgeley Park. "He'll have looked at the Bury result and will be thinking he can't wait to be part of the journey we are on." The 28-year-old had been due to return to County for a second spell on loan with a view to a permanent move.

Gannon leaves sick dad for County
Manager Jim Gannon has told how he did not want to let down Stockport County by staying with his critically ill father in hospital in Ireland. Gannon left his father to recuperate and flew to Rotherham for County's 4-1 win which maintains their League Two promotion push. "It's been a tough four months for dad stuck in hospital. I was there for my mum," Gannon told SSB. "But life has to go on and I feel Stockport is my second family." He added: "I wanted to be here to support the team."

Welsh clubs in hunt for Williams
Cardiff and Swansea are interested in signing Stockport's highly-rated defender Ashley Williams. The 23-year-old club captain is set to make his debut for Wales in their friendly in Luxembourg on Wednesday. And his form this season has linked him with a move away from Edgeley Park in the summer. "I know there are a few people interested in me," said Williams. "I believe Stockport are talking to some clubs, including Swansea and Cardiff." Wolverhampton-born Williams was released by West Brom as a youngster and then spent two years with non-league Hednesford. He was then given the chance to force his way back into the professional game by Stockport. And Wales boss John Toshack has now included him in his senior squad for the first time after monitoring his progress. "It's not often players from League Two get international football, so I am really looking forward to this opportunity," said Williams. "All I aim to do is play well for Wales if I get the chance, enjoy the experience and leave everyone else to decide my future. "I just want to play as high as I can go, obviously I would relish something like that. "But Stockport have been great with me, I want to do my best to get them promotion. "I will weigh up my options, Swansea and Cardiff are big clubs and both have shown an interest." But he added: "I am happy at Stockport, I am not desperate to leave but I want to play at a higher level. "The gaffer (Jim Gannon) understands that, although he wants me to stay. "We have had a lot of chats and he understands my position and knows what I want from my career." And Williams admitted cannot wait for his Wales chance. "International football was not on my radar a couple of years ago," he said. "I was relegated with Stockport and things were not enjoyable. "But the gaffer has turned it around and I am enjoying my football a lot more now. "And now with this chance for Wales, all I want to do is be part of it and progress on both fronts with my club football and Wales. "My granddad was born in the Rhondda, and I've always considered myself as Welsh. "I had no hesitation when I heard there was a chance."

McNulty set for Stockport return
Stockport defender Jimmy McNulty could be fit to face Darlington on Saturday after recovering from an ankle injury. McNulty played half of Monday's Manchester Senior Cup tie against Bury before declaring himself ready for a full return to action. The 23-year-old told SSB: "It was planned I would play 45 minutes to get some action. "I wanted to play a bit extra but we stuck to the plan as I needed some competitive minutes under my belt."

Our pitch is killing us - Gannon
Stockport County manager Jim Gannon says the poor state of their Edgeley Park pitch is making life harder for his promotion hopefuls. County moved to fifth after beating Darlington 1-0 on Saturday less than 24 hours after Sale Sharks, with whom they share the pitch, played on it. "The lads were fantastic today because the condition of the pitch is making things so difficult for us," he said. "I'm disappointed... we're trying to play but the pitch is killing us." After seeing Liam Dickenson's winner take Stockport to within three points of automatic promotion, Gannon's joy was tempered by his worry over the condition of the playing surface. "More worryingly, we're seeing players getting injured on the pitch," he said. "Julian Joachim went over on his ankle and Dom did. "They were innocuous little things but it's because the surface is so uneven because of the damage that's being done from all the training that Sale Sharks have done on the pitch." Guiness Premiership rugby union side Sale have shared County's pitch since 2003 and beat Brive 49-24 in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals in heavy conditions on Friday evening.

Promoted Stockport release nine
Stockport County have released nine players after clinching promotion to League one. The list of departures is headed by striker Adam Proudlock, who scored 10 goals last season. Long-term injury victim Rob Clare is also leaving Edgeley Park, ending his second spell with the club. Chris Adamson, Adam Griffin, David Poole, Dan Ellis, Chris Coward, Craig Flowers and Amari-Morgan Smith are the other players to be released. Manager Jim Gannon told SSB that the club's youth policy had to come first. "Our young players have all grown into becoming first-teamers," he said. "I just hope the club's ambition can match where some of these young lads like Tommy Rowe and Liam Dickinson are going to go because some of them are destined for great things."

County confident of Gleeson deal
Stockport County manager Jim Gannon is convinced the loan signing of Stephen Gleeson will be completed in time for the start of the new season. Wolves want the deal sorted, but did allow Gleeson to play in Saturday's friendly against Manchester City. Gannon told BBC Radio Manchester: "I just think Wolves are complicating it a little bit. "There's no need for that to happen yet, I think the player just wants to get out here and play football." Republic of Ireland international Gleeson, 20, played in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Edgeley Park, and should complete his loan move to Stockport in time for Saturday's first game of the season at Huddersfield. Gannon is also keen to strengthen the playing squad after the team's promotion to League One. He said: "We've got a very good young squad here, a lot of quality, perhaps not a lot of quantity so we need a few more bodies in to make sure we can protect ourselves against injuries and fatigue and if we do that we'll acquit ourselves very well." Stockport have already brought in attacking pair Peter Thompson and Carl Baker after gaining promotion by beating Rochdale in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Stockport mull Reid legal action
Stockport County have threatened to take legal action against Colchester United defender Paul Reid. Hatters boss Jim Gannon has said he will report Reid to the police after a challenge which saw Matt McNeil carried off with concussion on Saturday. Gannon told Radio Manchester: "We are collecting all the evidence and presenting it to the police. "It's up to them to take criminal proceedings against the player in question," he added. McNeil was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. Speaking about the incident, in which Reid was booked, Colchester boss Paul Lambert told BBC Essex: "The two of them have challenged for the ball and the lad's got there before him. "Reid has come over and headed the back of his head but hopefully the lad is okay." Meanwhile, Gannon has praised his players for sticking to skilful principles despite some opponents' physical approach. He said: "The players kept coming back and played with skill and invention. "We play the game in the right manner. We hope the game punishes those that don't play in the right manner. "Looking at the match stats overall - not just the stats in terms of the possession we had and the corners and shots on target - they show that we're a clean team that don't give away fouls. "I think we're the cleanest team in the league with the least amount of fouls but probably receive the most amount of fouls against us."

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