EASTLEIGH have confirmed that their National League trip to Stockport County has been rearranged to Tuesday, January 18, following the Hatters’ FA Cup progress.
The Edgeley Park outfit defeated Football League Bolton Wanderers 5-3 in an FA Cup first round replay this month, meaning they’ll be in cup action on the previous date of Saturday, December 4.
Stockport recently raised eyebrows in the premier non-league division after they hired Hartlepool United manager, and former Hatters player, Dave Challinor, to replace Simon Rusk.
Challinor won promotion from the National League with Hartlepool via the play-offs, returning the side to the Football League after a four-year absence, just last season – and he had signed a three-year contract just weeks before departing.
Hartlepool chairman Raj Singh said: “A couple of people there (Stockport) haven’t done themselves any favours by the way they have behaved.”
And Spitfires captain Danny Hollands shared his views, telling the Daily Echo: “The thing is, the teams that chuck money at them trying to get success, it’s hard to turn down.
“He’s come to manage a team where they’ve got a lot of good players, they’ve probably expected the team to do well this year and it hasn’t worked out for them just yet.
“It’s probably a big risk for him, but one that may pay off, may not, who knows.
“You talk about the financial thing but you can’t blame him because anyone in any job all over the country, if someone offers you a massive payrise you’re going to take it.”
He added: “It’s hard to turn down.”
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