Former Tranmere, Stockport, and Bury defender Dave Challinor began his managerial career on the north Wales coast at Colwyn Bay in 2010. Assisted by his former Bury teammate Colin Woodthorpe, Challinor led the Seagulls to promotion from the Northern Premier League Premier Division at his first attempt. Challinor and his assistant did not stick around to take charge of Colwyn Bay in the Conference North, instead opting to drop down a couple of divisions to take charge of ambitious NPL Div 1 North side AFC Fylde. Three promotions in the next six seasons saw Fylde reach the heights of the National League, and it almost got even better in 2019, with the Coasters reaching the playoff final at Wembley, with a place in the Football League up for grabs. It was not to be, with Salford City running out 3-0 winners, but the Coasters did pick up a consolation just seven days later when they returned to the national stadium to defeat Leyton Orient in the FA Trophy final. The 2019/20 started poorly but it still came as a surprise when Challinor was sacked in October 2019. At that point, Hartlepool United were treading water in their third attempt to return to the Football League following their 2017 relegation. An indifferent run of results had seen Craig Hignett lose his job, and Challinor was seen as the ideal man to take over. He was appointed manager on 11th November 2019. Challinor's first season was curtailed by the global Covid-19 pandemic but there had been enough an improvement to provide optimism ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. After a slow start to that season, Challinor's side started to go through the gears, especially at Victoria Park where, despite empty terraces caused by the continuing health issues, Pools put together a formidable run of form. Crowds finally returned to the Vic terraces in limited numbers in time for the season's climax. With Rhys Oates and the on-loan Luke Armstrong in fine goalscoring form, Pools reached the end-of-season playoffs, where victories over Bromley and Stockport County set them up for a winner-takes-all final against Torquay United. As was the case in 2005, Wembley Stadium was unavailable, so it was the unlikely setting of Bristol City's Ashton Gate that saw Pools earn their place back in the big time after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout that ended with on-loan Boro youngster Brad James tipping the decisive spot-kick onto the bar. The late finish to a season that had already started late due to Covid issues saw Pools face a bit of a scramble to secure a competitive squad. Oates and Armstrong had accepted offers from League Two rivals, and other key members of the promotion side had also left the club. Despite this, and with the terraces now filled with supporters, Pools remained competitive at the Vic, though they struggled for results on the road. The manager's stock was high, leading to concern among the fanbase whenever a managerial vacancy arose, especially as Challinor often appeared to cut a frustrated figure in interviews. Two such vacancies, at Tranmere and Wrexham, came and went before Challinor seemed to ease the worries by signing a new three-year deal in October 2021. That was to prove a false reassurance. On November 1st, in the wake of a heavy defeat at Leyton Orient, Dave Challinor informed the board of his desire to leave the club and join Stockport County.