Next Stockport Manager Odds: Main Contenders To Replace Dave Challinor
Dave Challinor has left Stockport County by mutual consent after a highly successful four and a half years with the League One club.
Having spent a two and a half seasons with the Hatters as a player, Challinor returned to the club as manager in November 2021, securing promotion from the National League in the same campaign.
Two years later, he steered County into League One and then this season’s play-off final at Wembley, where they were turned over by Bolton.
Challinor, who also enjoyed three promotions with AFC Fylde and one each with Hartlepool and Colwyn Bay, has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Blackburn.
Whoever replaces Challinor at Edgeley Park has big boots to fill, but who will it be?
We take a look at some of the leading contenders and the latest next Stockport manager odds on football betting sites.
A few words from Dave following his departure 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/pr2EaEI3GK
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) June 1, 2026
Next Stockport Manger Odds: Artell Leads The Way
Dave Artell has one managerial promotion on his CV, with Crewe in the 2019/20 season, and went close to adding another with Grimsby in the recently-finished campaign.
The Mariners suffered extra-time heartbreak in the League Two play-off semi-final against Salford in a season which saw them eliminate Manchester United from the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Grimsby were the joint top scorers in the division with 74 goals and are one of the favourites to win the title next season.
Next Stockport Manager Odds:
Manager | Odds | Probability |
Dave Artell | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Darren Ferguson | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Richie Wellens | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Darren Moore | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Dean Brennan | 3/1 | 25% |
Alex Revell | 4/1 | 20% |
Ryan Lowe | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Ryan Mason | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Kevin Nolan | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Will Still | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Steve Bruce | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Artell kept Town in League Two on the penultimate game of the 2023/24 season, having replaced Paul Hurst towards the end of November 2023.
In the following season, Grimsby finished ninth and they squeezed into the play-offs in seventh spot in May, so they are on an upward trajectory under his stewardship.
Stockport owner Mark Stott will surely have Artell in mind to fill the vacancy for which he is priced at 5/4.
Ferguson A Promotion Specialist
Darren Ferguson is on the market again after his fourth spell as Peterborough manager was ended in October.
Ferguson was given his marching orders after a 2-1 home defeat by Blackpool left Posh rooted to the foot of the League One table.
However, the son of legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had enjoyed three promotions with Peterborough throughout his career and one with Doncaster, so he knows how to get the job done.
Ferguson is available at 7/4 to land the Stockport job.
Wellens May Want Fresh Challenge
Richie Wellens continues to impress as manager of Leyton Orient, where he has been for the last four years.
The former Blackpool, Leicester and Doncaster midfielder guided the Os into League One as champions in his first season at the club and they have been in the third tier ever since.
Although, the east Londoners struggled last season it should not be forgotten that they reached the play-off final two years ago, only to lose 1-0 to Charlton.
Stockport are an ambitious club, one which Wellens would find appealing were he to leave Brisbane Road.
He can be backed at 2/1 for the Hatters post.
Moore The Merrier?
Darren Moore has enjoyed a couple of recent promotions, so is likely to be on the radar of Stott.
Moore is available after he was dismissed a few days after Christmas by Port Vale, who were bottom of League One, 10 points clear of safety at the time.
The ex-Derby and Barnsley defender was sacked by West Brom when they were in the Championship play-off places in the 2018/19 season and almost led Doncaster to the play-offs in the Covid-curtailed 2019/20 campaign.
Moore was famously at the helm when Sheffield Wednesday overcame a first-leg four-goal deficit to beat Peterborough in the League One play-off semi-finals in the 2022/23 season and Josh Windass then fired them into the Championship with a 123rd-minute winner against Barnsley.
Moore is also 2/1 on betting apps to be appointed Stockport manager.
Brennan In The Frame
Long-serving Barnet manager Dean Brennan has been making waves in north London and is 3/1 for the Stockport job.
The Irishman guided the Bees to the National League title in 2023/24 and they finished just two points outside the play-offs upon their return to the Football League.
Elsewhere, Alex Revell, whose Stevenage side lost 3-0 on aggregate to Stockport in this season’s play-off semi-finals, is 4/1 to head to Edgeley Park, just ahead of 5/1 shot Ryan Lowe, who was most recently at Wigan.
As a manager, Lowe enjoyed back-to-back promotions in League Two with Bury (2019) and Plymouth (2020).
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Former West Brom boss Ryan Mason can be backed at 6/1, while ex-Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan is available at 8/1.
Nolan was last in charge of Northampton, who sacked him in March with the club in the League One relegation zone.
Ex-Southampton boss Will Still is 10/1 and experienced manager Steve Bruce is 12/1.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Calling all Stockport fans! Who would be the best replacement for Dave Challinor? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below!
