With Jim Gannon completing the double capture of midfielder Alex Kenyon and forward Craig Hobson today, we want to know which area of the team the Hatters boss should strengthen next.

The make-up of Gannon’s side for next season should become clearer over the coming weeks with more additions expected and six players currently mulling over new contract offers.

Assuming most, or all of the players offered new deals decide to stay at Edgeley Park, the County squad will be looking stronger than it has done for a while.

That doesn’t mean to say there isn’t room for improvement though, which is why we want your views on the area of the team that needs focusing on next.

Let us know by voting in the poll below and by using the comments section at the bottom of the article.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

New Stockport County signing Alex Kenyon admits he is raring to go after his unveiling at Edgeley Park earlier today.

The 19-year-old former Everton youngster joins from Lancaster City, where he was named the club’s ‘Player of the Season’ after scoring 10 goals from central midfield this campaign.

Kenyon, who has signed his first professional contract with the Hatters couldn’t hide his delight at signing for the club.

“It feels great to be able to sign for Stockport County. I’m so excited to begin my career as a professional with the club and just can’t wait to get started,” he said on stockportcounty.com.

“I want to say thank you to everyone at Myerscough College. If I hadn’t been through their Football Development Centre I wouldn’t be where I am today, so massive thanks to Phil Brown and all the coaches who have helped develop my football over the past 4 years. I’ve loved playing for Lancaster City for the past three years. It’s a fantastic club with passionate fans who I want to thank for all their support.”

Fellow new addition, Craig Hobson echoed Kenyon’s thoughts. The tall striker, signed from Stalybridge Celtic, where he scored 16 goals this season admitted he is going through some exciting times.

“I’ve had three great seasons at Bower Fold. I feel I’ve progressed every season, and felt the time is right for me to move into the professional game, and what better way than to sign with a club as big as Stockport County! It’s a really exciting period in my life as my partner is expecting a baby in the next few weeks.

“I’m really excited to be working with Jim Gannon, and again with Alan Lord, who I played under at Myerscough College and Atherton Collieries.”

Jim Gannon has made his second and third signings of the summer with the additions of Alex Kenyon and Craig Hobson.

The pair, signed from Lancaster City and Stalybridge Celtic respectively, join Sean Newton who completed a permanent move to Edgeley Park last week following a loan spell with the Hatters.

19-year-old Kenyon, a product of Everton’s youth system was named as Lancaster’s ‘Player of the Season’ after grabbing 10 goals in 32 appearances from central midfield this campaign.

The former Preston North End and Chorley man will know County striker Danny Hattersley well, with the latter also being signed from Lancaster earlier this year.

Left footed striker Hobson, 24, netted 16 goals this season for Blue Square North side Stalybridge Celtic, who knocked Jim Gannon’s side out of the FA Trophy last December.

Hobson was also named as Celtic boss Jim Harvey’s ‘Most Improved’ player after his impressive year.

“We’re delighted to announce these signings today – they illustrate exactly what we’re trying to achieve here at the club,” Jim Gannon told Pitchero.

“Both Alex Kenyon and Hobson are dynamic young players with lots of potential and a rare hunger for the game. They’ll both make fantastic additions to our first team squad and I expect big things from them next season.”

Jim Gannon has brought former Hatters development manager and scout Alan Lord back to Edgeley Park as his new assistant manager.

Lord replaces Willie McStay, who was brought in by former County boss Dietmar Hamann and decided not to stay at the club.

Notorious for spotting non-league gems and aiding their development, Lord has been hailed by Gannon as his most important signing yet.

“Al is the perfect choice. I couldn’t ask for a more likeable, trustworthy and experienced assistant. Al has shown his worth so many times to this club and to myself over the years,” he told the official website.

“Previously he has concentrated very much on scouting, recruitment and coaching of players as a development manager, and despite his new title his brief will be very much the same. Only this time those players are likely to go straight into our first team squad, and I am sure Al will revel in the prospect of working so closely with players growing within the first team.”

He added: “Over the last few months Al has worked for the club as a scout and his match reports have been invaluable in our detailed preparation for matches.

“Furthermore, he has been instrumental in forging links with Myerscough College and numerous non-league clubs. The fruits of that relationship have been clearly proven over the years and our recent recruitments are borne out of Al’s in-depth knowledge of the lower league game.”

During his first stint at Edgeley Park, Lord recommended the likes of Anthony Pilkington and Oli Johnson to Jim Gannon, who were both brought to County before going on to play at a higher level.

He was also instrumental in the capture of Danny Hattersley from Lancaster City this season, with the young striker going on to net six goals in eight appearances for the Hatters.

Also speaking to the club’s official website, Lord commented: ”I’m excited at the prospect of returning ‘home’ and working closely with the gaffer doing what I think I do best. Hopefully I can play a part in finding the players that will undoubtedly develop in this environment and return the good times to what I believe is a great club with unbelievable supporters.”

Hatters duo Joe Connor and Danny O’Donnell are set to sign new one-year contracts with the club, the Stockport Express reports.

The pair were offered the deals by Jim Gannon last week, along with four others, and the paper has indicated that they were set to sign on the dotted line as it went to press.

Captain Connor, who won the club’s ‘Player of the Season’ award only joined County in December, but made a huge impression, putting in a string of fine performances in both midfield and defence to help the Hatters avoid relegation.

O’Donnell, who has also skippered the team this term returned from an ankle injury picked up at York in February to feature in the final three games of the season and do enough to earn a fresh deal.

Jim Gannon is still waiting to hear back from Cameron Darkwah, Tom Elliott, Andy Halls and Carl Piergianni on whether they will also be staying at Edgeley Park next season.

Stockport County have added a further two friendlies to their increasing pre-season schedule, along with confirmation of a game against Cheadle Town.

The Hatters will begin their pre-season with a friendly against Cheadle Town at Park Road Stadium on July 13, as revealed on County Blog last week.

Jim Gannon’s side will also travel to Buxton and Trafford on July 17 and August 4 respectively, to add to the three home fixtures already announced.

Current pre-season schedule in full below:

Friday, 13th July  - Cheadle Town (A) – 7.45pm
Tuesday, 17th July – Buxton (A) – 7.45pm
Saturday, 28th July – Manchester City XI (H) – 3.00pm
Tuesday, 31st July – West Bromwich Albion (H) – 7.45pm
Friday, 3rd August – Wigan Athletic (H) – 7.45pm
Saturday, 4th August – Trafford (A) – 3.00pm

For the latest in our series of ‘County Classics’, we haven’t brought you just one game – we’ve got you ten games that shaped the 2007/08 promotion season.

Courtesy of YouTube user ‘StockportCounty1883‘, the video has extended highlights of the crucial games and wins that propelled Jim Gannon’s side into the play-off places before their famous win at Wembley.

Games such as the 4-1 win away at then high-flying Rotherham along with the 1-0 win over Peterborough United are included in amongst all the goals from the three play-off games.

At nearly half an hour long there’s plenty of action and memories in there from one of the Hatters’ finest ever seasons, so grab a beer and get comfy.

Watch the video below:

Despite being a regular tweeter for a couple of years and also promoting County Blog on the site, until recently I’ve never actually ‘followed’ any SCFC players on Twitter.

In fairness, there haven’t really been enough likeable players across the last couple of seasons to follow.

The fact most of the players in the squad now have accounts however, and generally seem like they want to be at Edgeley Park led me to dip my toe in the water and give it a try.

There’s certainly been plenty of positive things I’ve seen of the players interacting with fans online.

It’s brought the two groups closer together when results on the pitch have seen them at loggerheads at times, while it’s refreshing to see how close as a group the players now seem under Jim Gannon.

A lot of the squad to me at least, come across as quite likeable, and it’s genuinely nice to log on after a win or good performance and see the players enjoyed it just as much as the supporters.

A retweet from County fanzine Clear Blue Skies earlier though alerted me to a tweet from County player Andy Graham in the aftermath of Manchester City’s title win this afternoon.

The youth team graduate, who was offered a one-year professional contract by Jim Gannon this week has since deleted his tweets, but as a Liverpool fan celebrating City beating United to the title, you can probably guess what was said.

He isn’t the first County player to land himself in hot water over things said on Twitter either. Cameron Darkwah and Andy Halls were both in the Clear Blue Skies (and plenty of others) firing line over their tweets on the Ched Evans affair recently.

While not directly sticking up for Evans, who was convicted of rape in April, their views certainly sparked up a storm on the social networking site.

They’re young lads and everyone is entitled to their opinion within reason of course, but while I’ve never been one to massively buy into the whole ‘players are role models’ argument, there is still a certain level of behaviour expected.

They might not think it, but the players are part of the public representation of the club and part of the image it portrays of Stockport as a whole to the rest of the country.

As a set of fans I’d like to think we do our bit to give ourselves a good name, and it’s up to the players to make sure they do the same.

It’s a shame it’s had to come to this but I think it’s time Jim Gannon and the club lay down the law with regards what is and isn’t acceptable when using Twitter.

What’s turned out to be a couple of minor episodes could turn out a lot worse in future.

To the players: you’re in a privileged position – don’t throw it away.

Nuneaton Town and Dartford FC have joined Woking and Hyde FC in being promoted to the Blue Square Bet Premier for the 2012/13 season.

The pair won the Blue Square North and South play-off finals respectively this afternoon, both seeing off their opponents 1-0 in tightly contested games.

Nuneaton were victors over Gainsborough Trinity thanks to Andy Brown’s 17th minute strike, while Lee Noble’s early goal was enough to earn Dartford victory against Welling.

The Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final between Luton Town and York City next weekend will determine the full line-up of the league for the 2012/13 campaign.

The club has revealed its ambitious plan to raise £585,000 through the sales of cheap £120 season tickets has failed.

Launched in March, the ‘Mad as a Hatter’ season ticket prices campaign aimed to generate enough sales to reach the target and offer the reduced prices for everyone who registered.

Yesterday’s deadline passed and went with the target not reached despite a late surge in sales however.

As a result, the club will revert back to this campaign’s season ticket prices, which will remain the same, although there are discounts for those who buy early.

2012/13 season ticket holders will also receive a discount card that gives 10% off in the club shop, the chance to purchase the new 2nd shirt for half price along with two free tickets to a league match of your choice.

Visit the official website for more information on prices and buying your season ticket.