Tranmere midfielder Steve Jennings has become Jim Gannon’s first signing as Motherwell manager.

The 24-year-old Jennings had been offered a new contract by the League One outfit but instead agreed a one-year deal at Fir Park.

Jennings, who left Everton as a youth, has spent his whole senior career with Tranmere apart from a spell on loan to Hereford United in 2007.

But he will not be available for Thursday’s Europa League fixture.

Gannon has inherited a depleted squad for the first qualifying round first leg against Llanelli.

Clubs could make a wild card signing ahead of the tie, but Motherwell say that the formalities of completing the Liverpool-born Jennings’ signing mean he will not be able to take part at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.

Gannon, whose last club was League One outfit Stockport County, had indicated on his appointment on Tuesday that he would be looking to the English market to bolster his squad.

Motherwell have been left with just 11 experienced first-team players for Thursday’s tie.

Several players left under freedom of contract while the club searched for a replacement for Mark McGhee, who became manager of Aberdeen.

Centre-half Brian McLean signed for Falkirk on Wednesday, striker David Clarkson was this week sold to Bristol City, while right-back Paul Quinn is poised for a move to either Cardiff City or Hearts.

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