Martin Paterson to Stockport? Notts County reaction given - 'he's very difficult to read' | OneFootball

FLW's Notts County fan pundit has given his reaction to reports linking head coach Martin Paterson with the vacant Stockport County job.

Notts County are preparing for life back in League One after winning promotion from League Two.

Notts County missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season, but they responded well to that setback with a 1-0 aggregate win over local rivals Chesterfield in their play-off semi-final, with Jayden Luker's goal in the first leg at the SMH Group Stadium settling the tie.

While their semi-final was a tight affair, the Magpies produced a dominant display as they beat Salford City 3-0 in the final at Wembley, with goals from Alassana Jatta, Lucas Ness and Jodi Jones sealing their return to League One for the first time since 2015.

However, a week on from their promotion celebrations, Notts could be vulnerable to losing head coach Martin Paterson, with journalist Pete O'Rourke reporting on Monday that the 39-year-old is in the frame for the vacant managerial position at Stockport County.

The Hatters are on the hunt for a new manager after parting company with Dave Challinor after their play-off final defeat to Bolton Wanderers, and it seems they are weighing up a potential move for Paterson, but he is far from the only name to have been linked with a move to Edgeley Park.

In addition to Paterson, Rochdale's Jimmy McNulty, Stevenage's Alex Revell and Leyton Orient's Richie Wellens are some of the other in-work managers on Stockport's radar, while former Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Port Vale boss Darren Moore is also said to be under consideration.

Confident Notts County claim made amid Martin Paterson, Stockport County talk

When asked for his reaction to the reports, FLW's Notts County fan pundit Gareth Parr admitted that Paterson may be flattered by the interest from Stockport, but he insisted that he is confident he will remain at Meadow Lane.

"It's an interesting question, although I know a lot of different managers have been linked with the Stockport job already," Gareth told FLW.

"I think Martin Paterson is very happy where he is at the moment.

"I think he feels he has unfinished business.

"I think he would look to maybe move on if he was going to somewhere significantly higher up the chain.

"He may feel that he needs to prove that promotion from League Two wasn't just a fluke and that he can stabilise Notts in League One.

"Then again, he's very difficult to read.

"He appears really happy and really pleased with what he's achieved, and I'd like to think he still sees Notts as a work in progress.

"I think he still believes that he can make us even better.

"He might be flattered possibly, rather than tempted, but I think he'll stay where he is."

Martin Paterson should resist Stockport County advances for two clear reasons

After his appointment was initially met with widespread criticism, Paterson has certainly proven himself as a manager at Notts County, and after being linked with Barnsley in April, it now appears he is attracting attention from Stockport.

The Hatters have finished third in League One each of the past two seasons before suffering play-off heartbreak, and it seems inevitable they will reach the Championship at some stage under ambitious owner Mark Stott, so a move to Edgeley Park could be tempting for Paterson.

However, the Magpies have experienced their own rise up the leagues under the Reedtz brothers, and with a successful data-driven recruitment model in place, there is every chance they will continue their progress in League One over the coming years.

Paterson also struggled during his previous managerial spell in League One with Burton Albion, so he should navigate the step-up to the third tier at a club where he is likely to be given time and patience, rather than jumping ship to Stockport, where he would be expected to hit the ground running and deliver the same standards as Challinor.