Dave Challinor has committed his future to Stockport County with a new three-year contract until June 2028.
Challinor took charge of Stockport in November 2021 and guided the Hatters to promotion and National League title just months later, before he proceeded to win promotion from League Two to League One just two seasons later as champions.
This season though saw Stockport miss out on promotion after they lost to Leyton Orient on penalties after a pulsating play-off semi-final tie, having finished third in the league.
Club bosses consequently decided to tie Challinor down to a new three-year contract to keep the 49-year-old at Edgeley Park until June 2028, which left him “delighted” to stay at the club after his contract had been set to expire at the end of 2025-26 season.
“Last season gives me even more motivation to improve and aim to meet the shared objectives we have. I’m still highly ambitious, and feel that what we have built here over the last three-and-a-half years makes County somewhere that I want to continue to build, alongside my staff, players and everyone involved at the Club.”
Challinor proceeded to reflect on the sack race nature of modern football as he praised owner, Mark Stott and CEO, Simon Wilson for their trust in him.
“A manager’s tenure at any football club is getting shorter and shorter, and I feel proud to have been at Edgeley Park for as long as I have.
“That comes from the trust placed in me by Mark and Simon to come in and have a positive impact, and I thank them both for that.”
Although Challinor has developed a record of getting Stockport promoted in their second season within an EFL division under his reign – having lost the 2022-23 League Two Play-Off Final before promotion the following season, he is wary of how tough next season will be.
“We’ve had great success, excitement, ups and the odd down over this period.
“Next season will undoubtedly be tougher than the last, and we have to continue to develop and move forward as a Club year on year. But we still remain positive that together we can achieve what we all want, and importantly what the original plan was – Championship football.”