Jim Gannon may not yet know it but there were powerful echoes of the experience of two recent Old Firm managers when Motherwell lost to Llanelli in Thursday night's Europa League qualifier. Food for thought: Motherwell manager Jim Gannon (right) and assistant Peter Ward Photo: PA Gannon suffered a European defeat inflicted by an unfancied side in his first competitive match in charge of the Fir Park side, just as Gordon Strachan did when he watched Celtic crumple against Artmedia Bratislava in July 2005. And, like Paul Le Guen when he succeeded Alex McLeish at Rangers in 2006, Gannon imposed a 4-2-3-1 formation upon Motherwell. Le Guen soon found himself on a collision course with his captain, Barry Ferguson, an internecine dispute that ended with the club in disarray and the Frenchman packing his bags and heading for home... [read full story]
