"No one wants to be dismissed, but sometimes you have to accept it. You have to endure the sting, and wherever I land next, they'll be getting a better version of Ryan Lowe," the manager said. It is remarkable that Ryan Lowe only faced his first sack after his fourth managerial appointment, a rarity in today’s fast‑moving football world.
He had previously guided Bury and Plymouth Argyle to promotion from League Two and then spent two seasons at Preston North End, where he felt the club consistently over‑performed in the Championship. "It was a demanding role," Lowe explained on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast. "In the 2024‑25 season we aimed simply to survive, and we managed 13 points from the first eleven or twelve games, which was enough to keep us up.
The following campaign we wanted to build on that and we believed we had a budget to compete, but the figures we were given were based on a two‑year‑old template, so it was a real challenge." He went on to describe how the club’s financial constraints meant they missed out on several targets because bigger rivals could out‑spend them and attract higher‑quality players. "We lost Ryan Trevitt, who was a key creative force for us. The team was built around his vision, and when he went, we struggled to replace that spark," Lowe said. Injuries and a handful of key performance indicators that fell short also weighed on the campaign, though he was quick to note that these were not excuses.
"There were things I could have handled better, and the staff around me could have done more as well," he admitted. "Being sacked was a first for me – I hope it stays that way – but I understand why it happened. The results weren’t spectacular, the performances were decent, the data looked okay, but we lacked the cutting edge in front of goal." Before his brief stint at Wigan, Lowe had left a mark at Preston, steering the club to two top‑half finishes in his full seasons. He believes the subsequent difficulties the club has faced only underline how well he performed there.
His successor, Paul Heckingbottom, was dismissed last month after a season that saw the team finish 14th. "Hecky managed to keep us up in his first year and then slipped to 14th, which is respectable," Lowe said.
"He’s a great manager, but football can be unforgiving." When asked about criticism of his playing style, Lowe replied that the Championship taught him the importance of adaptability, especially when facing teams with different tactical setups. He recalled a match against Norwich where his side lined up in a defensive 5‑4‑1 formation and managed a goalless draw away from home – a point he considered a solid achievement. One regret Lowe openly acknowledges is the timing of his departure from Preston.
He left after just one league game of the 2024‑25 season, a decision he now feels was premature. "I regret leaving after the opening match," he confessed. "I was trying to protect my family and myself. In pre‑season I had a frank conversation with chairman Peter Ridsdale, and there was a statement that the club’s performance last season wasn’t good enough.
After a 2‑0 loss to Sheffield United on opening day, I couldn’t sleep. I kept questioning whether I was giving the fans and the players what they deserved." Lowe described a “gentleman’s agreement” that was reached with the board.
While they did not actively want him to go, he felt the situation was untenable and acted on instinct, opting to leave rather than wait for a possible sacking. "I should have given it a few more games," he reflected. "If I had been dismissed, it would have meant the same thing – I’d have been out.
I simply felt I had taken the role as far as it could go given the budget and squad constraints. The club’s recent finishes have proved my concerns were justified." Looking ahead, Lowe says he is eager to return to the game, but he wants a project with longevity rather than a short‑term firefighting assignment – a type of role he has turned down in the past. Even at Wigan he was handed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year contract, only to be dismissed less than a year later.
"Whatever club hires me next will get the best version of Ryan Lowe because I’m determined to bounce back from what happened," he asserted. "I don’t want to be a fire‑fighter all the time, but sometimes you have to step in and keep a side afloat. What I don’t want is a brief stint of ten or fifteen games with no real stability, just to notch a few wins and then move on.
My CV speaks for itself." Having overseen 380 matches, many of them in the Championship, Lowe feels ready to join a club with solid ownership and a sporting director who shares his vision. "I’m looking for a club that values long‑term planning, where we’re all on the same page," he concluded. "That’s the environment where I can truly thrive and deliver results for the supporters."