Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has left the club by mutual consent after almost five years in charge. Challinor led the Hatters from the National League to England's third tier.

What happened?

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.

Why it matters for Stockport County

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 the time felt right to step away, adding: What a journey it's been.

What comes next?

Chief executive officer Simon Wilson is also leaving Edgeley Park after six years while long-serving keeper Ben Hinchliffe departs after 10 years.

| Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League standing | 3rd in League One, 77 pts, 22W-11D-13L from 46 games | | Goals this season | 71 scored, 58 conceded (+13 goal difference) | | Title race | 26 points behind leaders Lincoln | | Last result | Bolton 4-1 Stockport County (2026-05-24) | | Recent form | 3W-0D-2L (LLWWW, most recent first) | Challinor 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 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: 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 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