Dave Challinor latest as Stockport County boss is linked to major Championship job vacant for 100 days

Stockport County manager Dave Challinor is not in contention to become the next Sunderland boss. 

The 48-year-old features prominently in the betting for the high-profile Championship role and seemingly emerged as a firm contender on Thursday night. But according to the Sunderland Echo reports suggesting Challinor is of interest to Stadium of Light bosses are wide of the mark. 

The same goes for St Mirren’s former Oldham boss Stephen Robinson, with the Northern Irishman also linked with the head coach vacancy last permanently held by Michael Beale. AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen is the frontrunner for the role as things stand. 

While County fans can breath a little easier it is clear Challinor’s success has not gone unnoticed after taking the Edgeley Park club from the National League to League One. He is also no stranger to the North East having taken Hartlepool back to the EFL. That came after the former Tranmere, Stockport and Bury defender had enjoyed a hugely successful spell at AFC Fylde, winning three promotions and the FA Trophy in a near eight-year spell.

He is currently preparing the Hatters for their first season in the third tier in 14 years. Challinor has already snapped up Colchester United pair Jayden Fevrier and Jay Mingi ahead of the League One campaign with chairman Mark Stott admitting “it would be a massive stretch to try and get into the Championship with the same group of players that have got us from the National League into League One.”

Paddy Madden, who is joining Chesterfield, and Antoni Sarcevic, Bradford, are among the stalwarts of the promotion sides who are moving on from Edgeley Park this summer.