Stockport boss Jim Gannon has blasted Liverpool over their dealings with three of County's young stars.

Gannon has accused Liverpool of poaching teenage goalkeeper Ben Robinson and reneging on deals for young midfielders Greg Tansey and Ryan Crowther.

Liverpool agreed a deal with Stockport to take Tansey and Crowther to a recent youth tournament in Italy, but Gannon now expects both players to start the season at Stockport.

"We were approached by Liverpool who said they'd like to take Greg and Ryan on trial with a view to take them to an international tournament in Milan," Gannon told the Manchester Evening News.

"Given that it was the end of the season and a fantastic opportunity for the two boys, not just to see what Liverpool was all about but to experience an international tournament, we agreed.

"Liverpool wanted to agree a deal for both players before they went away and said if the two players did really well they'd kick the deal into place.

"We'd agreed a fee for both players, not unreasonable fees but in line with the fact that both players were 18 and ready to be professionals, in fact were professionals.

"Liverpool accepted the two figures and both boys went to Italy, enjoyed themselves and played really well.

"Subsequently Frank McParland, who we had negotiated with mainly, has left Liverpool and I was just a little disappointed with certain comments of some other members of the Liverpool staff to our players and the way things were left.

"We asked for an explanation and that hasn't been forthcoming.

"Tansey and Crowther can go on to have good careers here, if not in the Premiership, one day. They're delighted with the progress they've made and are happy to stay here.

"They're well-grounded lads and maybe it will be a blessing in disguise."

Gannon is now hoping to win some compensation for losing talented youngster Robinson to the Premiership titans.

"The whole Tansey and Crowther situation has been given a difficult twist with the news that Liverpool have attracted one of our players to their club in an unprofessional manner and against Premier League rules," added Gannon

"Ben Robinson is a talented youngster who had been offered a new contract.

"He's the sixth player to be poached like this in my time here. It's just disappointing some clubs can't ask us upfront rather than sign youngsters without our knowledge."