"No one wants to be dismissed, but you have to accept it when it happens. You feel the sting, and wherever I end up next, the club will be getting a better version of Ryan Lowe," the manager said.
It is remarkable that Ryan Lowe only faced his first termination after his fourth senior appointment, a rarity in today’s fast‑moving football world. Before his brief spell at Wigan, Lowe had already secured promotion from League Two with both Bury and Plymouth Argyle, and later guided Preston North End to performances that seemed to outstrip their resources in the Championship.
On the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast, Lowe opened up about his tenure at Wigan. "The first season, 2024/25, our aim was simply to survive.
We collected 13 points from the opening dozen games, which was enough to keep us clear of the drop zone," he explained. "We achieved that goal without too much drama." He continued, "In the second year we wanted to build on that foundation and we believed we had a budget that could make us competitive. Unfortunately the financial parameters were based on figures from two seasons earlier, which made it extremely hard to assemble a squad capable of challenging the league’s bigger clubs." Lowe lamented the difficulty of attracting talent: "We missed out on several targets because we simply could not match the wage offers of larger teams.
Those clubs could bring in higher‑quality players, leaving us at a disadvantage." Despite a promising start, the campaign took a turn when key midfielder Ryan Trevitt, a creative lynchpin, suffered a long‑term injury. "We built the side around his vision and technical ability. Losing him was a massive blow," Lowe said. He acknowledged that injuries and a few missed key performance indicators (KPIs) compounded the challenges, but refused to use them as excuses.
"There were decisions I could have made better, and I share that responsibility with the staff around me," he added. When the dismissal arrived, Lowe admitted it was his first sacking and hoped it would be his last.
"I understood why it happened – the results weren’t spectacular, the performances were decent, the statistical output was acceptable, but we lacked clinical finishing," he reflected. Before Wigan, Lowe had overseen Preston’s impressive over‑achievement in the Championship, steering them to two top‑half finishes in his full seasons. He believes the club’s recent difficulties underscore how well he performed there.
His successor, Paul Heckingbottom, was let go last month after a 14th‑place finish, a season in which Heckingbottom had managed to keep the team up. Lowe praised Heckingbottom, saying, "He’s a fantastic manager and it’s a shame his contract ended the way it did. Some will question the style of football we played, but in the Championship you have to adapt to the opposition.
I learned that from the managers we faced, and I think I applied it well." He added, "Deep down I know I did a good job at Preston. That belief matters to me, even if others don’t see it. I have a track record of over‑achieving on limited budgets. You can’t just walk into any club and expect to match the resources of a side like Norwich.
When we played them, we set up a 5‑4‑1, defended resolutely and almost won. A 0‑0 draw away from home was a point well earned." One regret Lowe expressed was the timing of his departure from Preston.
He left after the first league game of the 2024/25 season, a decision he now questions. "I regret leaving after just one match," he admitted. "I felt I needed to protect my family and myself at that moment." He described the pre‑season conversations with chairman Peter Ridsdale, noting that a statement had been released after the previous season suggesting the club’s performance was not good enough.
"We lost 2‑0 to Sheffield United on opening day, and the goals we conceded were sloppy. I lay awake that night wondering if I could still deliver for the fans and the players," Lowe recalled. "We had a gentleman’s agreement – they didn’t really want me to go, but I felt I wasn’t being advised properly.
My gut told me to leave immediately, and I should have given it a few more games. If I had been sacked, it would have meant the same thing in the end." He believes his intuition was right, noting that Preston’s subsequent league positions have validated his concerns about the club’s financial constraints and squad depth.
"The only thing I regret is the timing, not the decision itself," he said. Looking ahead, Lowe is eager to return to football, but he wants a project that offers stability rather than a short‑term rescue mission. "Even at Wigan I signed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year contract, yet I was dismissed in less than a year," he observed. "Wherever I go next, they’ll be getting a more refined version of Ryan Lowe because I’m determined to learn from what happened." He is clear about the type of role he seeks: "I don’t want to be a firefighter, stepping in for ten or fifteen games just to secure a few wins and then walk away.
My CV speaks for itself – 380 games, many in the Championship. I want a club with solid ownership and a sporting director who share my vision, where we can build something lasting together." In summary, Ryan Lowe’s journey through Bury, Plymouth, Preston and Wigan illustrates a manager who consistently punches above his weight, adapts to financial limitations, and remains driven to find a stable, ambitious environment where his experience can flourish. He remains optimistic that his next appointment will allow him to apply the lessons learned and deliver sustained success for a club willing to invest in a long‑term partnership.