Challinor brings his Stockport County side to the Suit Direct Stadium 13 months on from his decision to leave the club despite signing a new three-year deal just weeks previous.
Just days after watching his Hartlepool side suffer a heavy defeat at Leyton Orient, Challinor completed a shock move to Stockport in the National League where he would then go on to win promotion to the Football League for the second successive season, having guided Pools back to the EFL in the 2021 play-off final against Torquay United.
And following an indifferent start to the season at Edgeley Park, Challinor’s side have seen an upturn in form as he returns to the Suit Direct Stadium with his Stockport side now 14th in the League Two table while the side he left behind struggle at the bottom.
A lot has changed in the 13 months since his exit, with Pools now onto their third manager in that time.
But what of the players to feature under Challinor? Pools were beaten 5-0 at Brisbane Road in what would prove to be his final game at the club before joining the Hatters in November last year.
And here, at The Mail, we look at those who featured in Challinor’s final game in charge as manager against Leyton Orient and where they are at now, with just three of the 14 players involved that afternoon in London still at the Suit Direct Stadium and likely to be involved when Hartlepool host Stockport.
9. Matty Daly
Challinor brought Daly on loan to the club from Huddersfield Town with the midfielder scoring seven times in 27 appearances across all competitions. The 21-year-old would spend the second half of the season on loan at Bradford before this season joining Harrogate Town on loan. Picture by FRANK REID Photo: FRANK REID 2022
10. Luke Molyneux
Despite Challinor's exit following the Leyton Orient defeat Molyneux would go on to enjoy an excellent second half to the season earning the club's player of the year title. The former Sunderland man joined Doncaster Rovers in the summer (Credit: James Holyoak | MI News) Photo: James Holyoak
11. Mark Cullen
Cullen was a man in form heading into the Leyton Orient game with three goals in his previous two outings. The striker would go on to score another three times for the club before struggling for game time which led to a move to AFC Fylde. (Credit: Will Matthews | MI News) Photo: Will Matthews
12. Mike Fondop
Fondop was the first substitute in the defeat at Leyton Orient. The striker failed to score for Pools before leaving the club in January 2022. The 28-year-old has since signed for Oldham Athletic. Picture by FRANK REID Photo: Frank Reid