Dave Challinor speaks after signing a new contract at Stockport County

Dave Challinor speaks after signing a new contract at Stockport County, who finished the 2024/25 League One season in the playoffs.

The Hatters boss has signed a new three-year contract, extending his tenure until 2028, with the hope of getting the club into the Championship.

Since joining in November 2021, he has led the club to two league titles (National League and League Two) and two play-off campaigns, achieving a 55% win rate across 207 games, the second-highest in the club’s history.

His achievements include securing promotion to the Football League after 11 years, a League Two title with a record-equalling 12-game winning streak, and a club-record 87 points for a third-place finish in League One in 2024/25.

Despite missing promotion in the playoffs, Challinor’s high-intensity football has driven the club’s best points totals ever. Both the club’s CEO, Simon Wilson, and Challinor expressed enthusiasm for continuing their successful partnership, aiming for Championship football.

✍️ Stockport County is delighted to announce that manager Dave Challinor has signed a new three-year deal with the Club, extending his time at Edgeley Park until the Summer of 2028.

Cheers, thank you 🤝#StockportCounty

— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) June 17, 2025

Stockport County is delighted to announce that manager Dave Challinor has signed a new three-year deal with the Club, extending his time with the Hatters until the Summer of 2028.

Since joining the Club from Hartlepool United in November 2021, Challinor has gone on to become one of the most successful managers in Stockport County history – guiding us to two league titles during his time at Edgeley Park, as well as two play-off campaigns.

The gaffer has overseen 207 games during his time in charge so far, winning 114 of them – giving him the second-highest win percentage of any permanent manager in the Club’s history, behind only Lincoln Hyde (1926-1931).

Taking over a side sat ninth in the National League after a difficult start to the 2021/22 campaign, Challinor’s impact in SK3 was almost instant. His first win came in an unforgettable FA Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers, beating the League One side 5-3 in a replay at Edgeley Park, before guiding us on an incredible run of 20 wins from 21 games in all competitions, propelling us to the top of the table.

We secured the National League title on the final day of the season, earning promotion back to the Football League after 11 long years away. This was Challinor’s second successive promotion from non-league, after leading Hartlepool to League Two via the play-offs a year prior.

In our first season back in the EFL, County came within touching distance of back-to-back promotions, finishing fourth before losing the play-off final on penalties to Carlisle United.

However, Challinor and his team bounced back strongly the next season, winning the League Two title with two games to spare after a dominant campaign – which included a 12-game winning run in the league, equalling the EFL record for the fourth tier.

This marked the Club’s first EFL league title for 57 years and the seventh promotion of DC’s remarkable managerial career. The former AFC Fylde and Colwyn Bay boss has never finished below the play-off places in any full season with a club – a record spanning across four clubs and six divisions.

Last season, Challinor kept that record intact by guiding us to a third-place finish with 87 points—a new club record in the third tier and our highest league finish since 2002. The three highest points totals in Stockport County history have all come under his management, achieved through a clear identity of high-intensity, front-foot football.

Despite missing out on promotion via the play-offs, there was plenty to be proud of when reflecting on the 2024/25 campaign as the Club continues its push to return to the Championship.

With only one year remaining on his previous deal, we are thrilled that Dave has committed his immediate future to Stockport County, reaffirming his commitment to bringing further success to Edgeley Park.

Club CEO, Simon Wilson said:

“We are delighted to have Dave extend his stay at the Club again, for his third consecutive contract here. Without question I believe we have the best manager in the division, but more importantly a top person who is uncompromising in his desire to fulfil the vision of the Club on and off the pitch.

“We continue to work very well together and have great trust that whatever challenges are laid in front of us, together with our fantastic staff, and a growth mindset, we will find a way of overcoming them.”

On signing his new deal, Dave Challinor said:

“I’m delighted to extend my stay at the Club beyond the end of the upcoming 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.

“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.

“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.”

Fans reacted after Dave Challinor speaks on signing a new contract at Stockport County…

@CountyPodcast: Could be the best signing of our summer that 💪🏻

@samjwjonas: Simply. Lovely. Criminally underrated & underappreciated by some County fans. Unbelievable manager.

@docko6: Fantastic news. Best manager in this division!

@philiplloyd32: Excellent news.

@buttysbets: The most important signing we will make this summer. Cheers Dave. Thank you.

@ClassicCounty: Wow. What a statement of intent that is. Long live the king!!!! #stockportcounty

@razor1974: Great signing, also means if a bigger club comes in and try’s to turn his head, they can pay a big fee, terrific manager, comes across a decent bloke too

@tomhwilliams23: Wow, huge news for Stockport. Dave Challinor will manage in the Championship (at least) one day. This new contracts suggests he believes it’ll be with Stockport 🤝

@PhilCounty1883: Great news. The most important signing we’ll make this summer.

@tomlowe162: The only signing I really wanted

@JWheelhouse_01: Look what happens when you treat a fantastic manager the way you should do… Yet another example of what could’ve been! Buzzing to see him doing so well and I’m sure he’ll get an even bigger job in years to come 👏🏻

@sam_jeffs: Fantastic news. Chally and Simon Wilson seem to work well together. Gonna be another tough season with plenty of challenges we need to tackle head on, but full faith in Chally. Well deserved

@JonnyPickerin98: Best fucking signing in League 1 wow.

@goronology: Most important signing we could possibly make, Love it

@KanoCounty: Get this man a statue. #stockportcounty