• Published5 June 2026, 18:07 BST

Stockport County have appointed Rochdale boss Jim McNulty as manager on a three-year deal.

The 41-year-old joins having led Dale back to the English Football League (EFL) after a three-year absence, when they won the National League promotion final at Wembley last month.

He arrives at Edgeley Park after former Hatters boss Dave Challinor left the club following their League One play-off final defeat by Bolton Wanderers.

"To go full circle and return all these years on as head coach at County feels incredible," McNulty said of the club he played for in 2008-09.

"Some opportunities feel meant to be, and there's so much alignment and connection here for me, so there's amazing pride here for me and my family," he told the club website, external.

Meanwhile, Rochdale said they had put succession plans in place in case McNulty departed the club.

"On behalf of the board, the staff, the players and our incredible fans, we thank Jimmy for his fight, honesty and love for this club, as both a player and head coach. He has left us in a stronger place, and that is his legacy," a Rochdale statement said, external.

"We wish him and his family nothing but the very best, and we are in no doubt that he will carry that same passion and determination wherever he goes."

McNulty aims to bring back celebrations to Stockport

McNulty takes over a Stockport side who missed out on promotion from League One in May's play-off final at Wembley, when they were well beaten by near neighbours Bolton.

Prior to his exit, Challinor had been the fifth longest-serving manager in the EFL and won two promotions with Stockport, lifting them from the National League to the third tier.

In the past two seasons, however, they have finished third in League One and missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Dale narrowly missed out on automatic promotion from the National League in a thrilling battle with York City, culminating in a dramatic final-day draw against the Minstermen, who sealed the title at their expense courtesy of a 103rd-minute equaliser.

Undeterred, Rochdale then achieved promotion through the play-offs, but McNulty's side were made to work for it - having come back from 2-0 down to Boreham Wood to take it to 2-2 and extra time, and eventually winning on penalties.

McNulty initially took over at Rochdale on an interim basis as they dropped out of the EFL in 2022-23 and later signed a two-year deal as they began their first non-league campaign.

Having led them to an 11th-place finish in their first season in the National League, McNulty sealed a play-off spot in 2024-25 before their promotion winning campaign last term.

"We celebrated so much during my time here as a player, because we played a brand of football that we were so proud of as players and we knew the fans loved, and we found a way to win whilst doing it," he added.

"That is the idea that I want to cultivate for our supporters again, and I'm very excited to meet them and begin to develop that idea together."

Analysis - Stockport hope McNulty can bring success

Jimmy McNulty has big shoes to fill at Stockport County.

Dave Challinor brought the club from the National League to League One, winning two league titles along the way.

McNulty has had success of his own in his first managerial job, however, having brought Rochdale back into the English Football League via the National League play-offs, having amassed a remarkable 106 points during the 2025-26 season.

He was also a winner at Wembley as a player with Stockport in 2008. That was County's only successful trip to Wembley in eight visits, so they will be hoping McNulty can do it again.