Stockport County appoint Rochdale boss McNulty

Stockport County appoint Rochdale boss McNultyImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Jimmy McNulty initially took over at Rochdale on an interim basis in 2023 before signing a two-year deal soon afterwardsPublished17 minutes agoStockport County have appointed Rochdale boss Jim McNulty as their new manager on a three-year deal.The 41-year-old joins off after leading Dale back to the English Football League 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. McNulty aims to bring back celebrations to StockportMcNulty 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 English Football League (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 an thrilling battle with York City, culminating in a dramatic final day draw against the Minstermen, who duly 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...