Stockport County manager Dave Challinor leaves the club

Stockport County have officially confirmed the departure of manager Dave Challinor following five seasons with the football club.

Challinor, who played for the Hatters, took over in November 2021, and he guided the club from non-league to League One. Stockport missed out on promotion to the EFL Championship after they suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat in the League One play-off final against Bolton Wanderers.

During his tenure with the Greater Manchester club, Challinor won 142 of his 263 matches, suffering 68 defeats. With a win percentage of 53.99%, his style of football is not only great to watch, but it also brings brilliant results.

Challinor has been linked with multiple jobs already, with some of those clubs including Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday. While the 50-year-old is not officially leaving Stockport County to move straight away to a new club, he will not be short of offers this summer.

The former Hatters boss has made a huge impact on the football club, but now, the side will search for his replacement this summer.

Championship side Blackburn Rovers finished 20th last season, and Challinor is currently the favourite to take over at Ewood Park. Rovers ended the 25/26 campaign five points away from the relegation zone, after suffering just two losses in their last nine.

Dave Challinor's Stockport County suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup last season. Now, Challinor is the favourite to make the switch to Blackburn ahead of the 26/27 campaign.

Stockport County are now searching for Challinor's replacement in the dugout, as the club hopes to target promotion as they did over the last two campaigns in the third tier.

Challinor did have one year left on his contract with the Cheshire outfit, but he departed before it expired.

The manager could look to challenge himself in the Championship, or he could look to swap Stockport for another League One side, and hope to help his new team gain promotion to the second tier.