Challinor’s spell has been one of the most successful in Stockport’s history with the team finishing no lower than fourth in any of the last four seasons.
He had already secured three promotions in non-league with Fylde and had taken Hartlepool into the English Football League only a few months earlier when he was appointed at Edgeley Park with the team ninth in the National League.
Six months later, in May 2022, the Hatters won the title to end an 11-year spell in non-league.
They then finished fourth in League Two 12 months later only to lose on penalties to Carlisle United at Wembley in the play-off final.
Challinor’s team recovered from that to top the table in the next season, which included a record-equalling fourth tier run of 12 successive victories.
They needed little time to adjust to League One, earning a club-record 87 points at that level only to be beaten by Leyton Orient on penalties in the play-off semi-final last month.
