Reading FC confirm rearranged date for Stockport County trip
However, the Royals will no longer be making the trip to Lancashire on September 7 due to international call-ups.
Former Royal, Ollie Norwood, has signed a three-year deal with Stockport after his long association with Sheffield United came to an end.
The date has now been confirmed as Tuesday, October 29.
Stockport County could be about to lose coach Andy Mangan to Real Madrid, according to a report from The Sun.
It’s marked the perfect start to life in the third-tier for Dave Challinor’s side. Many had tipped them to find joy on the rise from League Two, but this has exceeded the expectations of the Edgeley Park faithful.
However, it could be that the early high-flyers are dealt a backroom blow.
The Sun reports that Stockport County coach Andy Mangan is being eyed up by Spanish giants Real Madrid to become part of Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching set-up at the Bernabeu.
They state that Mangan being hunted by the La Liga giants, with whom he has a surprise connenction. Mangan worked on a training course with Davide Ancelotti, the son of boss Carlo. And, it could land him a shock move to the Spanish capital.
Mangan: from Fleetwood to Madrid?
Mangan was a journeyman as a player, starting in football at Blackpool before signing for Lancashire outfit Accrington Stanley in 2005.
Before retiring with Stanley in 2019, Mangan had played for a further eight clubs. His playing career took in the likes of Bury, Wrexham, and Tranmere Rovers as well as Welsh side Bala.
After retirement, he started out in coaching with another of his former clubs, Fleetwood Town. His first appointment with the Cod Army was as a youth team coach.
He then progressed to become assistant manager at the club, spending 87 games in this position under Joey Barton. When Barton moved on to become Bristol Rovers’ manager, Mangam went with him as his assistant. From February 2021 until November 2023, Mangam was an understudy to Barton for 143 games.
Upon Barton’s sacking by the Gas, Mangan took caretaker charge of Rovers for seven games. He lost just one game, winning four and drawing the other two.
Mangan’s current role at Stockport County is listed as being an assistant coach in charge of attacking aspects of the Hatters’ game.
Mangan has a choice to make
Davide Ancelotti is assistant manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, helping his father – Carlo – run Los Blancos who count Kylian Mpabbe amongst their players.
