Took me a day or two to join up so a bit late to the party. Sounds like Graham Alexander being considered. But Id go all out to get Dave Challinor from Stockport County. He's got an absolute fantastic record all the way from non league and the northern premier league with Colwyn Bay through to AFC Fylde, Hartlepool and now Stockport. Promotion after promotion. Hes won promotion with all those clubs and in total has had 7 promotions in 14 full seasons. He's never finished a full season as Manager outside a play off place in the 14 seasons. Hes got a win percentage of 53% over 819 matches in charge. Some record. Got Stockport to 3rd in League One last season behind Birmingham and Wrexham (5points off the big spenders). This season his Stockport are currently joint 3rd in League One with Bolton 6 points adrift of the automatic 2nd spot. Challenging yet again..
Hes a class act a proper football man. He sets very high standards of professionalism and wont take any shit either. Matt Jansen is currently his Assistant First Team coach at Stockport. Plays an aggressive pressing game. Tends go 3 at the back 3-5-2 variations or 4-3-3 over the years depending. And yes he can even get Miller to put a few more yards on his throw - being pre Delap & that. Came across Challinor a good few years ago in non league when I was a coach, scout, kitman ground worker, helper, sub board holder, player taxi driver dogsbody and magic sponge man.... But his teams always played slick football. I remember his Fylde team were so much better to watch than Stanley at the time all be it a couple of divisions below them & we played both in about a week.
The way hes going Championship level clubs will be queing up for him sooner rather than later. Stockport know that and got him on a 3 year contract last summer, think it was. Maybe a sticking point.. Hes took each league by storm from Step7 right up to flying high in league one for the 2nd season in a row. My Blackpool fan mate was pretty dam impressed with their football when County played Blackpool the other week too. So that nails it then.
Ha but in terms of earning an opportunity even at Championship level i think Challinors record is nothing but pretty outstanding. I dont see a problem with the step up. The guy keeps proving theirs no problem with the step ups. He ll adapt. Having been in non league, the late night journeys, the rough & tumble the fun & the mayhem. To rise up from that through all those leagues is something and some story. The cream always rises to the top.
