According to reports from Pete O’Rourke via X, Stockport County manager David Challinor is set to leave the club after nearly five years with the club. Since his arrival, the Hatter’s rise through the divisions has been exponential, but after failing in the League One play-offs for a second time running, it appears the head coach has taken the club as far as he can.
Challinor first took charge of the club in 2021, while they were underachieving in the National League. Since then, Stockport have become recognised as a top-end side in League One.
During the 2024-25 season, the club achieved an impressive 87 points, which was not quite enough to pip Wrexham to the last automatic promotion spot, but the club’s momentum was not in any doubt, with many tipping them to cruise towards promotion this season.
Though it was not to be. Despite their third-placed finish, County were no trouble to the eventual top two, with 10 points less than last season’s total.
The Edgeley Park faithful were largely frustrated with several performances. And this caught up to them at Wembley, as Bolton Wanderers cruised to the Championship with a 4-1 victory, despite the clash appearing to be a tight game for the majority.
His time at the club will be painted into County legacy, after the club languished in obscurity for more than a decade. But now, the club will need to target a manager who can pick up the pieces and lift County into the Championship next season. So, this article will explore five potential managerial options Stockport County could consider for next season.
Jimmy McNulty – Rochdale
Stockport County need a winner, and Jimmy McNulty is just that. Rochdale caught the eyes of many last season, achieving an incredible points total to fall short of the title on the final day. It says a lot about the coach that he was able to pick his side up after disappointment and guide them to victory in the play-offs.
Dale had it all last season. Difficult to beat, and adaptable towards different levels of opposition, which will be needed in a potentially harder League One roster next season, with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City in the mix.
Capable of turning a team into a winning engine, he would be an excellent fit for the club, which will be looking to be in the conversation for automatic promotion next season.
And location is a huge plus. While it remains to be seen whether McNulty would want to see out the job at Rochdale amid the club’s promotion, the Hatters would no doubt present a huge opportunity for the coach.
David Artell – Grimsby Town
A more patient approach, but a rewarding one at that. David Artell’s teams have shown to improve year after year for both Grimsby Town and Crewe Alexandra, with both fanbases holding his style of football in high regard when at its best.
Over the last two years, he has shifted the identity of Grimsby. With the club now established as a firm promotion candidate in the fourth tier, their underlying numbers prove that the club was not short of being one of the division’s best outfits throughout the 2025-26 season.
Additionally, he is an excellent man-manager. Many Mariners fans have been stunned by the developments of Harvey Rodgers and Kieran Green, who are continuing to add new dimensions to their games under the coach. Meanwhile, he has vastly developed players acquired from the lower divisions, with Reece Staunton and Jaze Kabia more than comfortable at the League Two level despite stepping up two divisions last summer.
While the project at Blundell Park is incredibly exciting, managing a club at the sharp end of League One would present a great opportunity for Artell. Though, as previously mentioned, he is a more process-based manager than one who should be expected to immediately deliver promotion.
It depends on the approach Stockport County are wanting to take, but there are few better project managers at EFL level.
Dean Brennan – Barnet
Another one from the fourth tier, Dean Brennan’s Barnet, is a joy to watch.
Forward-thinking and more than comfortable at League Two level upon their promotion, the manager has completely transformed the North London club.
Previously, the Bees were languishing around the relegation zone in the National League. And after Brennan took charge in June 2021, the club was immediately challenging for a return to the EFL. Falling short in the play-offs on two occasions, they were finally able to lift the title in 2025 after a closely-contested race against York City.
And as previously mentioned, Stockport County need someone who can come in and consistently win games. The thought of Brennan with County’s budget is exciting, and his brand of football would be welcomed at the Greater Manchester club.
However, it would command a fee, with the manager signing a three-year deal in North London last year, leaving him under contract until 2028.
Reuben Sellés – Unattached
Slightly more audacious, but certainly not out of the picture. Reuben Sellés could be open to a return to League One, a division where his work at Reading was stunning despite the torrid circumstances at the club.
He knows the division well and was more than deserving of his shots in the Championship with Hull City and Sheffield United, despite neither of those stints working out particularly well.
County need a new culture, and he showed the ability to implement a great team spirit during his time in Berkshire. He favours a 4-3-3 formation, and his sides are relentless in their pressing. In a more stable set-up, there is no doubt he could craft a winning team for Stockport County.
Darren Ferguson – Unattached
A man who knows the formula in England’s third tier, it is no surprise to see Darren Ferguson on many clubs’ radars.
Ferguson has five promotions in the EFL to his name and has managed over 800 league fixtures in that time. Few know the EFL better than the ex-Peterborough United boss.
So, the Hatters could certainly do worse. He knows what a winning team at League One level is, and the progressive culture and extensive backing at Edgeley Park could be hugely tempting to the manager. They already possess the core of a promotion-winning team, and appointing the 54-year-old could be the final piece of the puzzle.
However, he is widely linked with the Leicester job, meaning Stockport County would need to act fast and make an incredible offer.
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