Ryan Lowe admits that being dismissed is never pleasant, but he believes it’s a part of the job and that his next employer will benefit from a more refined version of himself. “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 Sky Sports Essential EFL. It is remarkable that Lowe’s first termination only came after his fourth managerial appointment, a rarity in today’s fast‑moving football world.
He had already celebrated promotion from League Two with both Bury and Plymouth Argyle, and then spent two seasons at Preston North End where he felt the club consistently over‑performed relative to its resources in the Championship. On the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast, Lowe broke down his time at Wigan Athletic. “The first year, 2024‑25, our brief was simple: consolidate and stay up. We managed just 13 points from the opening 11‑12 games, but we met the objective and secured survival comfortably,” he explained.
He went on to describe the challenges of the second season, when the club hoped to build on that foundation. “We thought we would have a budget to compete, but the figures we were given were based on two‑year‑old benchmarks. That made it extremely difficult to assemble a squad that could challenge the bigger clubs.” Lowe highlighted the impact of limited financial muscle on recruitment. “We missed out on a lot of players because we couldn’t match the offers of larger clubs.
They could afford better talent, and we were left scrambling for alternatives.” Despite these constraints, the team started the campaign positively. “We were doing okay until we lost Ryan Trevitt, who was a key creative outlet for us. The system was built around his vision and skill set.” Injuries and a few key performance indicators (KPIs) that didn’t go our way also played a part, but Lowe was quick to reject the notion of making excuses.
“There were things I could have done better, and I recognise that, but the same could be said for many of the staff around me.” He described the dismissal as his first in a managerial career that he hopes will also be his last. “The results weren’t great, the performances were decent, the data was acceptable, but we lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.” Before his brief spell at Wigan, Lowe had overseen Preston’s impressive runs in the Championship, guiding the club to two top‑half finishes in his full seasons.
He remains convinced that the club’s recent struggles underline how well he performed there. “My successor, Paul Heckingbottom, was sacked last month. The year I left, Hecky managed to keep the club up on the final day, finishing 14th last season.
He’s a fantastic manager, yet he lost his job.” Lowe also addressed criticism of his style of play. “People will always question the brand of football you play, but what I learned in the Championship, watching the managers we faced, was the importance of adaptability.” He believes his record of achieving more than the budget would suggest is a testament to his abilities. “I know deep down I did a good job there.
That belief matters to me, even if others don’t see it.” He cited a memorable match against Norwich City as an example of tactical flexibility: “We set up a 5‑4‑1, defended resolutely and almost won. We ended with a 0‑0 draw away, which was a valuable point.” One regret Lowe openly acknowledges is the timing of his departure from Preston. He left after just the opening league game of the 2024‑25 season, a decision he now feels was premature.
“I do regret leaving after one game. I was trying to protect my family and myself. In pre‑season I had a good conversation with chairman Peter Ridsdale, and a statement was issued saying the club’s performance wasn’t good enough for where we wanted to be.” He described the opening defeat to Sheffield United – a 2‑0 loss with two sloppy goals – as a sleepless night.
“I kept asking myself whether I could still give the fans what they wanted, whether I was delivering value for the money the club paid me.” A “gentleman’s agreement” was reached, with the board not actively seeking his exit, but Lowe felt his instincts were urging him to move on. “My gut was saying, just do it. I should have waited a few more games.
If I had been sacked, it would have been the same outcome.” Looking forward, Lowe is eager to return to football, but he wants a project that offers stability rather than a short‑term firefighting role. He has already turned down several offers that didn’t meet his criteria. Even at Wigan, he signed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year contract, only to be dismissed less than a year later. “Wherever I go next, they’ll get the best version of Ryan Lowe because I’m disappointed with what happened.
I don’t want to be a firefighter, but sometimes you have to step in and keep a side in the division.” Lowe stresses that he is not interested in a brief stint of ten or fifteen games aimed solely at winning a few matches to trigger a contract extension. “My CV speaks for itself – 380 games as a manager, many in the Championship. I’m looking for a club with solid ownership and a sporting director who shares my vision.” He wants a partnership where everyone is aligned, allowing him to build something lasting rather than chasing quick fixes.
In summary, Ryan Lowe’s journey through Bury, Plymouth, Preston, and Wigan illustrates a manager who has repeatedly out‑performed limited resources, learned from setbacks, and remains optimistic about the next chapter. He acknowledges past mistakes, especially the hasty exit from Preston, but he also highlights the lessons learned about timing, communication, and the importance of a supportive club structure. As he surveys the market for his next challenge, Lowe is determined to bring a more experienced, resilient version of himself to a club that values long‑term planning and offers the stability needed to translate his over‑achievement record into sustained success.