We take a look at the contenders to be the next manager of Stockport County following the departure of Dave Challinor.
Challinor has spent the last four and a half years at Edgeley Park and he guided the club from the National League to League One.
The Hatters have suffered play-off heartbreak in each of the last two seasons and Challinor will depart amid links to Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday.
Here are our top five contenders to be the next Stockport manager.
Next Stockport Manager Contenders
Richie Wellens
Richie Wellens' stock was particularly high this time last year after his Leyton Orient side reached the League One play-off final before losing to Charlton Athletic.
Last season was disappointing for Wellens as Orient finished just one place above the relegation zone.
The former Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers boss has been the Leyton Orient manager since March 2022 and he would surely jump at the chance to join a club with promotion aspirations.
David Artell
Grimsby Town manager David Artell has been mooted as a potential replacement for Challinor.
After steering the Mariners to safety in his first season, Artell has overseen a considerable improvement and they reached the League Two play-offs last season.
Artell also has a League Two promotion on his CV following his time at Crewe Alexandra.
Alex Revell
Alex Revell has done an excellent job during his time at Stevenage over the last couple of years.
Leading Stevenage into the League One play-offs at the expense of the likes of Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town is no mean feat.
Their play-off challenge ultimately ended in disappointment and he may feel that Stockport have a better squad to challenge for promotion next season.
Jim McNulty
Jim McNulty understandably has plenty of admirers following the season he has just overseen at Rochdale.
After more than playing their part in an historic and dramatic National League title race alongside eventual champions York City, the 41-year-old managed to get his players to regroup and bounce back to clinch promotion through the play-offs at Wembley.
After spending the majority of his playing and managerial career in the North West, McNulty could see this as a chance to prove his credentials at an even higher level.
Martin Paterson
Another name linked with making the move to Edgeley Park is Martin Paterson.
The 39-year-old's stock is high after leading Notts County to promotion with a 3-0 League Two play-off final victory over Salford City and it will be fascinating to see if Paterson sees this as a step up in his managerial career.
The Magpies head coach has experience in League One - managing to steer Burton Albion clear of relegation at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
