Wigan Athletic Sack Ryan Lowe Following Heavy Defeat
Ryan Lowe was unable to halt Wigan Athletic's rapid decline in the League One standings, leading to his dismissal as manager after 11 months in charge.
Wigan Athletic announced the sacking of Ryan Lowe after their 6-1 defeat to Peterborough United on Saturday. This heavy loss resulted in the Latics dropping into the relegation zone, with the club having secured only one victory in their last 10 League One matches.
When Wigan defeated Burton on 2 December, they were positioned 11th in the table. However, after 29 matches, they have fallen to 22nd place, just two points away from safety.
Managerial Tenure and Club Performance
Lowe, aged 47, was appointed manager in March 2025 on a three-and-a-half-year contract, succeeding Shaun Maloney. During his tenure, Lowe, who previously managed Preston North End, Plymouth Argyle, and Bury, won only 12 out of 49 games in charge.
Following the recent defeat, Wigan confirmed that Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will assume interim responsibility for the first team while the club expedites the process to appoint a new head coach.
"The club also thanked Lowe for 'his efforts and wishes him all the best for the future'."
Lowe's Previous Achievements and Recent Form
Ryan Lowe had previously achieved promotion from League Two with both Bury and Plymouth Argyle and secured mid-table finishes in the Championship with Preston North End, finishing 13th, 12th, and 10th respectively.
He joined Wigan towards the end of the 2024-25 season and guided the team to a 15th-place finish in League One.
Despite winning against Northampton on the opening day of the current season, Wigan's form deteriorated, managing only three wins in 17 matches across all competitions between late August and late November.
Upcoming Fixtures
Wigan's next fixture is a home league match against Reading on Tuesday at 19:45 GMT. Following that, they will travel to face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, 15 February, at 16:30.
