Stockport County appointed Rochdale manager Jim McNulty on a three-year contract after he guided Dale back to the EFL last month.
Stockport County has completed the signing of Rochdale manager Jim McNulty on a three-year agreement. The 41-year-old takes charge at Edgeley Park following Rochdale’s return to the English Football League, secured through a promotion final victory at Wembley last month. His appointment comes after outgoing Stockport boss Dave Challinor departed the club following their League One play-off final loss to Bolton Wanderers. McNulty previously played for Stockport during the 2008-09 season.
McNulty described his return to Stockport as a full-circle moment and expressed his excitement about becoming the club’s new head coach. He told the club’s official website that the opportunity felt destined, highlighting a strong personal and professional alignment with the team. McNulty added that the connection runs deep for him and his family, sparking immense pride. "To go full circle and return all these years on as head coach at County feels incredible," he said.
The new manager aims to bring back the celebratory football that defined his playing days at Stockport, a style fans cherished. He emphasized the importance of playing attractive football while finding ways to secure victories. McNulty expressed excitement about meeting the supporters and working together to rebuild that winning identity. "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 remarked. "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."
Stockport finished third in League One this past season but fell short in the play-offs, losing to Bolton Wanderers in the final at Wembley. Before his departure, Dave Challinor had been the fifth longest-serving manager in the EFL and secured two promotions with County, taking them from the National League to League One. Meanwhile, Rochdale narrowly missed automatic promotion from the National League, finishing level with York City before a dramatic final-day draw. York City ultimately claimed the title with a 103rd-minute equalizer against Rochdale.
McNulty took charge of Rochdale on an interim basis after their relegation from the EFL in the 2022-23 season and later signed a two-year contract. In his first non-league campaign, he guided them to an 11th-place finish in the National League. The following season, 2024-25, he steered Dale to a play-off spot before securing promotion last term through a dramatic play-off run. Rochdale overcame a 2-0 deficit to Boreham Wood, equalizing to force extra time and eventually winning on penalties.