Dave Challinor: Sheffield Wednesday appoint former Stockport County boss

Sheffield Wednesday have appointed former Stockport County boss Dave Challinor as their new manager.

He replaces Henrik Pedersen, who was sacked last Sunday after just one win in six League One games.

The Owls are currently on a winless run of three matches - where they have drawn once and lost twice - and are ninth in the table.

They next play Blackpool at 14:00 GMT on Sunday, for which Challinor will be watching from the stands as interim boss Matt Hamshaw takes charge.

A former Bury and Tranmere Rovers defender, Challinor began his managerial career at Colwyn Bay in 2010.

The 51-year-old has since achieved multiple promotions across spells with AFC Fylde and Hartlepool.

More recently, he guided Stockport County from the National League and to the League Two title within three seasons - and twice took them to the League One play-offs.

The Englishman departed the Hatters by mutual consent at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season after losing in the play-off final to Bolton Wanderers.

Sheffield Wednesday's new owners wanted to bring in a winner - someone capable of turning recent defeats and draws into victories.

Challinor's record fits the bill, with seven promotions to his name already. He also knows League One through his time at Stockport County.

His task will be to provide an effective form of football. He has to bring a Sheffield Wednesday squad together that has talented individuals but now needs to be shaped into a team.

The top seven in League One is starting to look strong and Wednesday, along with Leicester and possibly the rising MK Dons, will be looking at joining the group that appears to be establishing.

This will be an interesting next step for Challinor. It's a very different job to Stockport, Hartlepool or Fylde - with massive expectations.

Whenever Wednesday are in League One, you're expected to win. A lot. Darren Moore had a 96-point season at this level and was always only a bad result away from having people question his job.

I'd expect he will probably be joined by Clint Hill and Anthony Sweeney on his staff. Simon Wilson, who worked with Challinor at Stockport, will have been instrumental in the appointment. That working relationship will be key moving forward.

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