Wigan appoint ex-Preston boss Lowe as head coach

Wigan will be Ryan Lowe's fourth job in management after spells at Bury, Plymouth and Preston

Wigan Athletic have appointed Ryan Lowe as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Lowe replaces Shaun Maloney, who left the Latics earlier this month.

The 46-year-old has been out of work since his two-and-a-half-year spell at Preston North End ended in August.

Wigan are 15th in League One in their second season since being relegated from the Championship.

Lowe will have a watching brief for the Latics' match at Charlton Athletic on Saturday while Glenn Whelan, Frankie Bunn and Graham Barrow take interim charge of the team.

They will remain in support of Lowe until the new backroom structure is announced.

Wigan are the fourth English Football League (EFL) club Lowe has taken charge of after Bury, Plymouth Argyle and Preston.

He won promotion out of League Two with Bury and Plymouth and finished 13th, 12th and 10th in the Championship with North End.

But he departed the Lancashire club after just one game this season.

'Get the Brick bouncing'

Following a seven-month break, he now returns to work at the Brick Community Stadium.

"I'm pleased to be here because it's a fantastic football club with history and tradition," Lowe told the club's website.

"The club has had some good times and some bad times, and I'm here to bring the good times back.

"Hopefully, we can have the Brick bouncing every Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening."

Lowe arrives with Wigan 10 points above the League One relegation zone and they are the division's lowest scorers with 32 goals.

"Ryan has experienced what we are striving to achieve as a football club, and is someone who is really passionate about our project," said sporting director Gregor Rioch.

"Ryan is aligned with our playing identity and naturally fits within our new structure."

More to follow.