End of an error - Ryan Lowe parts company with Wigan Athletic after Peterborough United pasting
Wigan Athletic have parted company with head coach Ryan Lowe following the club’s 6-1 thrashing at Peterborough United.
Graham Barrow and Glenn Whelan will assume temporary charge while a successor is identified, with the club pledging to ‘work quickly’ to bring in a replacement.
Time is very much of the essence, with Latics hosting Reading – managed by former Latics gaffer Leam Richardson – on Tuesday night, before the small matter of an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Premier League leaders Arsenal next Sunday.
In between, the club are scheduled to hold a fans forum – pencilled in for Wednesday night – although it remains to be seen whether that goes ahead as planned.
The club’s decision to scrap their usual post-match press conference following the game raised immediate question marks surrounding the position of Lowe.
With members of the local media waiting pitchside to speak to the manager as usual, a club spokesman confirmed no press duties would be undertaken.
And with the travelling support from Wigan spending long periods of the game voicing their displeasure at Lowe – whose seat in the visiting dug-out was in close proximity to the away end – speculation was understandably rife that his time at the club might be over.
Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ were audible with the score only at 1-0, and the sight of stewards and police in the away end was another reminder of the unpleasant situation.
The vocal abuse continued in the second half, with ‘Ryan Lowe, your football is sh*t’, as well as supportive backing for former manager Shaun Maloney.
As recently as last week, Lowe was given a vote of confidence by sporting director Gregor Rioch, who insisted the Liverpudlian had the ‘100% support’ of the powers-that-be.
Lowe also underlined his steadfast desire to continue ‘until told differently’, but he was conspicuous by his absence as his players gathered to applaud the away end after the game.
And the inevitable news was confirmed at 10.15pm on Saturday evening.
"Wigan Athletic can confirm that they have parted company with Head Coach Ryan Lowe,” read a club statement.
"In the interim, Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will take on first-team matters, and the club will work quickly to identify and appoint a new head coach of the football club.
"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Ryan for his efforts and wishes him all the best for the future.”