I have been reading their Wiki page, makes for grim reading for most of this century, a similar club to ours, maybe a big bigger even
their history shows just how simple
it is to find a new owner who can begin to not take them forward
it took a trip the 5 & 6th tier before they found their man, a guy who throws more money at it than wrexham have
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockport_County_F.C.
from wiki
The summer of 2003 saw an ownership change. Elwood sold the club to Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy in a move that would see Sale play their home games at Edgeley Park. A new company, Cheshire Sport, was established,[62] which combined ownership of Stockport County, Sale Sharks and the Edgeley Park stadium.[citation needed]
A chart of Stockport County's previous final league positional which also shows the English Football League structure over the years.
Chart of Stockport County's annual table positions in the English football league system from 1900 to the present[45]
In 2005, after reportedly losing £4 million in operating costs,[63] Kennedy handed ownership of the club to the Stockport County Supporters' Co-operative.[64][65] Former County player Jim Gannon was appointed manager, initially as caretaker manager.[66][67] He led the club to safety in 2005–06,[68] and sustained a promotion challenge the next season but eventually missed out on the League Two play-offs on goal difference.[69] The team continued their success during the 2007–08 season and reached the play-offs in which they faced Rochdale in the Final at Wembley. Stockport came from behind to win the game and earn promotion to League One.[70][71]
In April 2009, Stockport County was placed into administration due to a loan to a creditor of around £300,000, and a tax debt of £250,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.[72][73] Two months later, County's administrator, Leonard Curtis, announced terms had been agreed with the Melrose Consortium—headed by ex-Manchester City player Jim Melrose—for the sale of the club.[74][75] In July, administrators agreed to a company voluntary arrangement with the previous shareholders and creditors.[76] The Melrose Consortium bid was rejected by the Football League, however, in March 2010.[77] A new consortium, the 2015 Group, was given exclusivity to work towards a takeover of the club.[78]
The purchase of Stockport County by the 2015 Group was approved by the Football League in May 2010, with the takeover announced in June.[79] Before the start of the 2010–11 season, the new owners pledged to "rebuild the club from top to bottom",[80] and appointed Paul Simpson as manager.[81][82] He was sacked after only six months in charge,[83][84] and Ray Mathias was brought in as interim manager.[85] Despite an upturn in results, County were relegated to the Football Conference for the first time in their history.[86][87]
Non-league era (2011–2022)
Dietmar Hamann on the touchline for Stockport County
Dietmar Hamann on the touchline for Stockport County
After relegation, a Liverpool-based businessman tried, and ultimately failed, to buy the club.[88] Dietmar Hamann, who had no prior managerial experience, was named manager in July 2011.[89] He won only three of nineteen matches before resigning, after his position had been undermined by a fans' meeting in November.[90][91] The fans called for Gannon to be re-appointed as manager.[92][93] He was reinstated, steered Stockport away from the relegation zone and finished 16th.[94]
The club regained sole tenancy of their Edgeley Park stadium for the first time in nine years in 2012, after Sale Sharks relocated to Salford City Reds' new ground.[95][96] In January 2013, former fcbusiness magazine editor, 30-year-old Ryan McKnight was named as the chief executive officer at County.[97][98] Gannon was subsequently dismissed for a second time.[99][100] Stockport employed two further managers in three months, and were relegated to the Conference North on the final day of the 2012–13 season.[101] The club announced it was to lose its full-time status, and proceeded with a part-time model.[102] McKnight announced his resignation in April 2014.[103]
Stockport County lift the National League North title
Neil Young was named as Stockport's new manager in 2015, after he had previous successes in the division with Chester,[104][105] but departed in January 2016.[106] County once again turned to Gannon, who returned for a third stint.[93][107] He stabilised the club on the pitch and finished around the play-offs places for the next two seasons.[108][109] In 2017, a local search was carried out to locate descendants of the club's founders.[3][110] In 2018–19, Stockport reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and won the Conference North, their first league title in 52 years.[111][112]
Local businessman Mark Stott purchased County for an undisclosed fee in January 2020, and cleared its debts; Stott pledged to return the club to full-time football, to reach the Football League and to find a new training ground.[113][114] Managed by Dave Challinor (appointed in November 2021),[115][116] County topped the National League in 2021–22, securing promotion back to the EFL after an 11-year absence.[117]
Stockport County lift the National League trophy
Return to the Football League
In their first season back in League Two, Stockport finished 4th and reached the play-off final, losing to Carlisle United 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Wembley.[118] The following season, Stockport secured automatic promotion to League One and were later crowned as champions with two games remaining of the season.
it is to find a new owner who can begin to not take them forward
