Jim Gannon could live to regret turning down the job of Albion manager.

That is the message from the Seagulls defender who has already made the move from cash-strapped Stockport.

Jim McNulty, signed from County last month, believes family considerations, managerial ambition and loyalty to the club he has served as both player and boss for 13 years dissuaded Gannon from following him south.

Left-back McNulty, bought from the north-west promotion candidates for £150,000 during the January transfer window, said: “I was never too convinced.

“It seemed as if everyone thought he was nailed on to become the manager but I’m not totally surprised.

“I know he is very passionate about Stockport and he has got a lot of ties there.

“I know there were issues with his missus. I know she is a Stockport girl.

“All her family are around there and that was definitely a factor in his decision.

“They’ve just had a little girl and I don’t know whether she wanted to come down here.

“That was a massive thing for me – my family are still up north.

“I always thought it would take something very special to get him away from there.”

Gannon, 40, was linked with Blackpool and Derby earlier in the season after turning down a new two-and-a-half year contract at Edgeley Park and remaining on a rolling one-year deal.

He described his job at Stockport as “untenable” following their defeat at Stockport on Tuesday night and before his meeting with Albion chairman Dick Knight on Wednesday.

McNulty said: “I really thought that was the signal for him to leave but maybe it was a come and get me sort of plea.

“All this interest from Brighton has only raised his high profile. It’s got his name in the press, one club is after him so others have got to move quickly if they want to take him.

“I do think he is going to manage if not at the top then very high up, definitely in the Championship, because he is a very good manager. Only time will tell if he will live to regret the decision.

“They are pushing for the play-offs and stuff like that but I felt this could have been a good opportunity for him with the stadium and more financial power.

“Brighton should be in the Championship now and the stadium will enhance that. It’s a massive club with big support, so hopefully we can get there.”

McNulty has also revealed that Gannon played a major role in his initial decision to reject a move to Albion before changing his mind.

“Brighton were not the only club talking to me at the time,” he said. “They put the offer in for me really early and the other clubs were stalling.

“Once the offer came in, the manager at Stockport and managers at the other clubs were telling me to hold my horses and look at my options.

“I took my time doing that. Jim Gannon was a big factor in me turning the move down.”

McNulty is concentrating now on tomorrow’s crunch relegation battle against Crewe at Withdean under caretakers Dean White and Bob Booker.

“I would imagine there won’t be an appointment now until next week,” he said. “Whitey and Bob have done a great job.

“We’ve taken four points out of six and it doesn’t affect me or the boys too much. They’ve done well and why can’t they be given a chance?”

The 24-year-old Liverpudlian is glad that, unlike Gannon, he has taken his chance with Albion, even though the difference in property prices from north to south has been an eyeopener.

“I couldn’t believe the price of houses when I got down here,” he said. “I’m actually living at the training ground in a tent!”