Former Sheffield Wednesday manager linked with League One job following exit
Stockport County are officially on the hunt for a new boss - and Darren Moore is reportedly on their radar.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore is ‘emerging as a contender’ to replace Dave Challinor as Stockport County manager, according to a report by the Mail.
It was confirmed by County on Monday lunchtime that Challinor, after almost five years in charge, has left the club following their 4-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in last month’s League One play-off final.
Appointed in November 2021, Challinor took Stockport from the National League to the cusp of the Championship. He brought their 11-year absence from the Football League to an end in 2022, leading them to the National League title, before guiding them to promotion from League Two as champions just two years later.
After missing out on promotion to the Championship last season, losing on penalties to Leyton Orient at the semi-final stage of the League One play-offs, they fell agonisingly short again this time around, losing to Greater Manchester rivals Bolton at Wembley.
As highlighted with Simon Wilson’s impending switch from Stockport to Hillsborough to become Wednesday’s new sporting director, a summer of change is underway at Edgeley Park, meaning they will be embarking on a new era of their own next term.
A statement issued by the League One club said: “Stockport County Football Club can confirm that, following long and constructive discussions, we have mutually agreed to part ways with First-Team Manager Dave Challinor.
“Dave leaves Edgeley Park after an extraordinary five-year period that has helped transform the trajectory of the football club. Since arriving in November 2021, he has overseen one of the most successful eras in the club’s modern history, guiding us from the National League to the cusp of the Championship, while creating numerous memorable moments that will live forever in County’s long and illustrious history.”
As far as Challinor’s potential replacement is concerned, former Owls chief Moore has been linked with the post via a report in the national media. The 52-year-old, who guided Wednesday to promotion from League One in 2023, has been out of work since being sacked by Port Vale last December.
Since his departure from Hillsborough almost three years ago, Moore has worked at both Huddersfield Town and Port Vale. He guided the latter to promotion from League Two in 2024/25 in what was his only full season at the club.