Sheffield Wednesday appoint Dave Challinor as manager

Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Dave Challinor as their new manager, BBC Sport reported on Sunday. The former Stockport County boss replaces Henrik Pedersen, who was dismissed the previous Sunday after a spell in which Wednesday won only one of six League One matches. Challinor takes over with the club ninth in the table.

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The appointment comes before Wednesday's league fixture against Blackpool at 14:00 GMT on Sunday, but Challinor will not be directing the side from the touchline for that game. BBC Sport said he would watch from the stands while interim manager Matt Hamshaw remained in charge. Wednesday enter the fixture without a win in three matches, having drawn one and lost two.

Challinor, 51, arrives after a spell at Stockport that included promotion from the National League and a League Two title within three seasons. He subsequently led the club into the League One play-offs twice. His most recent season there ended with defeat by Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final, and he left by mutual consent at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.

His managerial career began at Colwyn Bay in 2010, following a playing career that included time as a defender with Bury and Tranmere Rovers. Before joining Stockport, he also achieved promotions during spells in charge of AFC Fylde and Hartlepool. BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton put Challinor's overall record at seven promotions in his assessment of the appointment.

The move also reunites Challinor with a former colleague. Wednesday sporting director Simon Wilson previously worked with him at Stockport, according to the BBC report. Challinor therefore joins a club whose sporting director already has experience of working alongside him, as well as bringing recent knowledge of League One from Stockport's two play-off campaigns.

Wednesday's immediate matchday arrangements remain with Hamshaw for the Blackpool fixture. For Challinor, the new job follows a Stockport tenure spanning promotion from non-league football to successive League One play-off appearances; his new side are currently ninth and seeking to end their three-match winless run.