Stockport boss Challinor leaves League One club

Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has left the club by mutual consent after almost five years in charge.

Challinor, 50, led the Hatters from the National League to England's third tier, but they missed out on promotion to the Championship this season with defeat by Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final.

The former Stockport defender returned to Edgeley Park as manager in November 2021 and won 144 of his 268 games in the dugout.

Alongside his two promotions with the club, he previously went up a division five more times - once at Colwyn Bay in his first campaign as a manager, three times with Fylde and once with Hartlepool.

A Stockport statement said Challinor had "helped transform the trajectory of the football club", "overseen one of the most successful eras in the club's modern history" and created "numerous memorable moments that will live forever".

Challinor told the club website, external "the time felt right" to step away, adding: "What a journey it's been. An amazing five years that have gone as I would have hoped, and probably beyond what I expected.

"Five seasons is a long time in football management at any level, and deciding to step away from the club at this moment has been incredibly tough, especially on the back of the play-off final outcome. My family and I have put everything into County and it has become our lives over this period, but the timing feels right."

Chief executive officer Simon Wilson is also leaving Edgeley Park after six years while long-serving keeper Ben Hinchliffe departs after 10 years and Challinor added: "It feels a little like the end of an era (with) the club entering a new phase with new people coming in.

"For me, it feels like the right time for all parties to look at what comes next, while leaving immensely proud of everything we've achieved together."

Challinor - who was the English Football League's fifth longest-serving manager - has been linked with the vacant Blackburn Rovers job, but said he planned to spend some time away with his family.

In a message to fans, Challinor, who had signed a new long-term deal only last year, added: "Your backing has been incredible and I'm sure that will continue.

"From game one, when 5,000 of you travelled to Bolton, to game 268 and 15,000 at Wembley for the third time in four years, your support never wavered. Annoyingly, we couldn't reward that with a win, but that moment will come.

"I hope we can all reflect positively on the experiences and emotions we've shared together over these years, mostly good, with a few painful moments along the way.

"I'll be back at Edgeley Park as a watcher and a supporter, and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to say thank you and goodbye properly in person."

Stockport, who have finished third in League One the past two seasons only to fall short in the play-offs, said the decision had been made mutually after "long and constructive discussions".

Hatters owner Mark Stott told the club website, external: "Since buying the club, there have been a few County legends mentioned to me, and in management there is obviously Jim Gannon and Danny Bergara. Dave Challinor definitely now joins that list.

"From the day Simon [Wilson] and I first met Dave, we knew we had found the right person to kick-start our vision for the club. His track record spoke for itself, but it was Dave's human qualities that gave us complete confidence he was the man for the job.

"Five years on, the achievements speak for themselves. We have reached at least the play-offs every season, won two league titles and broken so many records along the way. Dave has played a huge role in transforming the club and helping us build foundations for the future."