Stockport County manager Dave Challinor departs by mutual consent after five-year tenure
Dave Challinor leaves Stockport County following play-off final defeat to Bolton Wanderers, ending an era that saw the club rise from the National League to the third tier.
Stockport County has confirmed that manager Dave Challinor has departed the club by mutual consent after nearly five years in charge. The decision follows the team’s defeat to Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final, which ended their bid for promotion to the Championship. Challinor, aged 50, led the Hatters from the National League to the third tier, securing two league titles during his tenure.
Challinor returned to Edgeley Park as manager in November 2021, having previously played for the club as a defender. During his time in the dugout, he won 144 of his 268 games. The club described his leadership as overseeing one of the most successful eras in its modern history, noting that he helped transform the trajectory of the football club. He is now the English Football League’s fifth longest-serving manager.
Alongside the managerial change, chief executive Simon Wilson is leaving the club after six years, and long-serving goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe is departing after a decade. The club stated that the decision followed long and constructive discussions, marking the end of a period where the team finished third in League One for two consecutive seasons but failed to secure promotion via the play-offs.
In a statement to the club website, Challinor said the timing felt right to step away, citing the length of his tenure and the recent play-off outcome. He noted that he and his family had put everything into the club, and while the decision was tough, he planned to spend time away with his family. He added that he would return to Edgeley Park as a supporter and hoped to say goodbye properly in person.
Owner Mark Stott praised Challinor as a County legend, placing him alongside former managers Jim Gannon and Danny Bergara. Stott highlighted that Challinor had been the right person to kick-start the club’s vision, pointing to the achievements of reaching the play-offs every season and breaking numerous records. Challinor, who had signed a new long-term contract only last year, has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Blackburn Rovers but has not confirmed any immediate next steps.
