Wigan Manager Lowe Sacked: Whelan & Barrow Interim, Next Matches Confirmed
- Wigan Athletic have parted ways with manager Ryan Lowe following a dismal 6-1 defeat to Peterborough United on Saturday, February 7th, 2026.
- The club confirmed that Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will assume interim management duties while they search for a permanent replacement.
- Lowe’s tenure, which began in March 2025, lasted just under eleven months.
Wigan Athletic have parted ways with manager Ryan Lowe following a dismal 6-1 defeat to Peterborough United on Saturday, . The decision comes after a rapid decline in form for the Latics, who have won just once in their last ten League One fixtures.
The club confirmed that Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will assume interim management duties while they search for a permanent replacement. Whelan, a former Premier League midfielder, will be supported by Barrow, a long-serving figure within the Wigan setup.
Lowe’s tenure, which began in , lasted just under eleven months. He was brought in on a three-and-a-half-year contract to revitalize the club, succeeding Shaun Maloney. However, Lowe managed only 12 wins in 49 games at the helm.
Wigan’s slide has been particularly stark in recent months. After a promising start to the season with a victory over Northampton, the team’s form deteriorated significantly. Between late August and late November, they secured only three wins in 17 matches across all competitions. The defeat to Peterborough proved to be the final straw, dropping the Latics into the League One relegation zone.
At the time of his dismissal, Wigan sat 22nd in the League One table, two points from safety, after 29 matches. They had fallen dramatically from 11th place, where they stood on , following a win against Burton.
Despite his relatively short and ultimately unsuccessful spell at the DW Stadium, Lowe boasts a managerial pedigree. He previously achieved promotion from League Two with both Bury and Plymouth Argyle, and during his time with Preston North End, he guided them to finishes of 13th, 12th, and 10th in the Championship.
Wigan’s immediate schedule presents a challenging test for the interim management team. They face a league match against Reading on Tuesday evening (), followed by a significant FA Cup fourth-round tie against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, (). The FA Cup match against Arsenal represents a considerable challenge, but also an opportunity for Whelan and Barrow to potentially galvanize the squad.
The club expressed its gratitude to Lowe for his efforts and wished him well in his future endeavors. The search for a new head coach is expected to begin immediately, with the club aiming to appoint a successor swiftly to stabilize the team and mount a challenge to climb out of the relegation zone.
The timing of Lowe’s departure raises questions about the club’s long-term strategy and the pressure to achieve immediate results in a competitive League One landscape. Wigan’s ownership will be under scrutiny as they seek a manager capable of restoring stability and ambition to a club with a proud history.
The appointment of Whelan and Barrow, both figures with strong ties to the club, suggests a desire for continuity and a familiar face in the dugout during this transitional period. Whelan’s playing experience at the highest level could prove invaluable in motivating the players, while Barrow’s extensive knowledge of the club’s infrastructure and youth setup will be crucial in maintaining a cohesive environment.
However, the interim managers face a daunting task in turning around Wigan’s fortunes. The team’s defensive vulnerabilities were brutally exposed by Peterborough, and addressing these issues will be paramount. A lack of consistent goalscoring has been a recurring problem, and finding a solution to this will be essential if Wigan are to avoid relegation.
The upcoming matches against Reading and Arsenal will provide a clear indication of whether Whelan and Barrow can inspire an immediate improvement in performance. While a victory against Arsenal would be a monumental achievement, securing a positive result against Reading is arguably more critical in the context of the League One relegation battle.
The club’s statement emphasized their commitment to finding a new head coach “quickly.” The identity of potential candidates remains unknown, but the priority will undoubtedly be to appoint a manager with a proven track record of success in League One and a clear vision for the future of Wigan Athletic.