Ryan Lowe admits that being dismissed is never pleasant, but he believes it offers a chance to learn and grow. "No one wants to be sacked, but you have to take it. You have to feel the pain and wherever I go next, someone's going to get a better version of Ryan Lowe," he told the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast. The fact that Lowe’s first dismissal came only in his fourth senior managerial appointment is striking in today’s fast‑moving football world, where coaches are often given very short leashes.
Lowe’s résumé includes two League Two titles – first with Bury and later with Plymouth Argyle – before he took charge of Preston North End, a club he feels exceeded expectations in the Championship. “It was a tough gig,” he explained. “In the first season, 2024/25, our brief was simply to stay up.
We collected 13 points from the opening 11‑12 fixtures and eventually secured safety comfortably.” The following campaign, however, presented a different set of challenges. "We wanted to build on that foundation and we believed we had a budget to compete," Lowe said, noting that the financial parameters were based on figures from two seasons earlier, making it difficult to keep pace with richer rivals. "We missed out on a lot of players because we couldn’t match the wages of bigger clubs. They simply had a deeper talent pool than we could attract." Lowe highlighted the loss of Ryan Trevitt as a turning point.
Trevitt had been the creative hub around which the side was organised, and his departure left a noticeable void. Injuries compounded the problem, and while Lowe refused to make excuses, he acknowledged that certain key performance indicators slipped. "There were things I could have done better, and I know my staff could have done better too," he conceded.
When the club finally decided to part ways with him, Lowe described the experience as his first sacking and, hopefully, his last. "The results weren’t great, the performances were decent, the data was okay, but we weren’t clinical enough in front of goal," he said.
Despite the disappointment, he remains convinced that his tenure at Preston was a success. Under his guidance the team achieved two top‑half finishes, a feat that he believes demonstrates his ability to over‑achieve on limited budgets.
Lowe also defended his predecessor, Paul Heckingbottom, who was dismissed last month after a season that saw the club finish 14th. "He’s a fantastic manager," Lowe remarked. "He survived the final day to keep the club in the Championship, yet he still lost his job." The former Preston boss also reflected on the tactical flexibility he learned in the Championship, often having to adapt his approach against stronger opponents. He recalled a match against Norwich where his side deployed a five‑at‑the‑back, 5‑4‑1 formation and managed a respectable 0‑0 draw away from home, illustrating his willingness to tailor tactics to the opposition.
One regret Lowe openly acknowledges is the timing of his departure from Preston. He left after just the opening game of the 2024/25 season, a decision he now questions. "I do regret leaving after one game," he admitted.
"I needed to protect my family, but I should have given it a few more matches. If I had been sacked, it wouldn’t have mattered – the club would have moved on anyway." He explained that a pre‑season conversation with chairman Peter Ridsdale had set the tone for the season, with a statement suggesting that the club’s performance the previous year was not good enough. After a 2‑0 defeat to Sheffield United on opening day – a loss he described as “very sloppy” – Lowe found himself unable to sleep, plagued by doubts about his ability to deliver for the fans and justify his salary. A “gentleman’s agreement” was reached, allowing him to walk away, even though the board had not formally asked for his resignation.
Looking ahead, Lowe is eager to return to football, but he wants a project that offers stability rather than a short‑term rescue mission. He turned down several opportunities that would have seen him act as a “firefighter”, preferring a role where he can build something lasting. Even at Wigan, where he signed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year contract, he was dismissed after less than a year.
"Wherever I go next, they will be getting the best version of Ryan Lowe because I’m disappointed with what happened," he asserted. "I don’t want to be a firefighter, but sometimes you have to step in to keep a side in the division.
What I don’t want is a 10‑ or 15‑game stint with no longevity, just a few wins to pad a contract." Now, with 380 games under his belt – many of them in the Championship – Lowe is looking for a club with strong ownership and a sporting director who shares his vision. He believes his track record of achieving results on limited resources makes him an attractive candidate for clubs aiming to punch above their weight.
In summary, Ryan Lowe’s career has been marked by notable achievements, early setbacks, and a clear sense of self‑belief. He acknowledges the pain of being sacked, learns from each experience, and remains determined to find a role that aligns with his philosophy of sustainable, long‑term success.
The next chapter of his managerial journey will likely involve a club willing to invest in his proven ability to maximise limited budgets while fostering a competitive, adaptable style of play.