Ryan Lowe confirms changes to First Team staff structure

Ryan Lowe confirms changes to his First Team staff structure 

Ryan Lowe confirmed adjustments to the First Team personnel organization.
Glenn Whelan has been elevated to Assistant Head Coach. Nicky Adams, Joe Riley, and Tony Warner have joined as First-Team Coaches, Chief Scout, and First-Team Goalkeeping Coaches, respectively.

Ryan Lowe has made various adjustments to his current First Team staff structure in preparation for the next Sky Bet League One season in 2025/26.

Glenn Whelan promoted to the role of Assistant Head Coach

Glenn Whelan has been elevated to First Team Assistant Head Coach after making a significant effect as First Team Coach last September. The former Stoke City, Aston Villa, and Republic of Ireland midfielder has brought his extensive expertise to the Football Club, demonstrating his value on both the training pitch at Christopher Park and on matchdays around the country.

During his tenure as Interim Manager, he led the Football Club with passion and honesty, leading Latics to a crucial victory over Cambridge United, and he will continue to be a tremendous role model for the players as well as an important member of the First Team Coaching staff.

In addition to Whelan’s promotion, Lowe has recruited Nicky Adams, Joe Riley, and Tony Warner. Adams will take on the job of First Team Coach, Riley as Chief Scout, and Warner as First Team Goalkeeper Coach.

Nicky Adams appointed First Team Coach

Adams, 38, played with and under Lowe at Gigg Lane and is someone the Latics manager greatly admires. After 22 years and over 600 professional games, the winger retired at the end of the 2024/25 season, having finished his career on a high note by winning the NWCFL Premier Division with the Shakers.

He has already begun his coaching career with Oldham Athletic, where he has served as Head Coach of the Youth Team Development Squad from August 2023. Adams has used his EFL expertise to help Oldham’s young players develop professionally, influencing their future stars both on and off the field through mentorship and guidance.

Adams has also been aiding the First Team staff at Boundary Park, helping Micky Mellon’s team reach the National League Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium, and will now begin the next chapter of his coaching career with Latics.

Joe Riley appointed Chief Scout

Riley, 33, had a 10-year football career that began with Bolton Wanderers, where he made three Premier League appearances. Riley was Lowe’s former Bury teammate, and the two helped the Shakers return to League One in the 2015/16 season.

Riley later reunited with Lowe at Plymouth Argyle, when the Liverpudlian was appointed Manager in June 2019. They had additional promotion success together, leading the Pilgrims to promotion from League Two at the end of Lowe’s first season in Devon.

Riley, who was forced to retire prematurely while playing for Mansfield Town in July 2021, chose to stay in the game by working for a football agency alongside numerous professionals. He was appointed Fleetwood Town’s Head of Recruitment in June 2022 and has played an important role in all of the club’s transfer deals since then.

Tony Warner Appointed First Team Goalkeeping Coach

Warner, 51, began his career at his hometown club, Liverpool, where he ascended through the ranks in the early 1990s, including a brief loan spell at Swindon Town, where he maintained a clean sheet on his Football League debut, before moving to Celtic and Aberdeen in the SPL.

His coaching career began when he accepted a player-coach position at Blackpool FC, where his expertise led to another coaching position at Accrington Stanley, in between stints in India with Chennaiyin.

After a brief stay at Bolton Wanderers, Warner joined Bristol Rovers as Goalkeeping Coach, and the club went on to win promotion to Sky Bet League One before joining Reading FC, where he worked alongside Paul Ince and Rubén Sellés.

Existing Football Staff Update 

As a result of the personnel reorganization, Head of Recruitment Stephen Gormal has left the Football Club, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours. After assisting the First Team during the first few months of Lowe’s tenure, Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Frankie Bunn and Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Chris Brown will return to their roles at the Heatable Latics Academy, while Graham Barrow will continue to serve as Club Ambassador and a familiar face around the first team.

Commenting on the new staff structure, Head Coach Ryan Lowe said: 

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Glenn Whelan, who has been promoted to the role of Assistant Manager. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen from Glenn since I arrived at the Club in March, and I felt that he was the best person for this particular role. While he’s still at the start of his coaching career, Glenn is an outstanding coach with excellent knowledge of the game. 

“I’m delighted to have made Nicky, Joe and Tony my first coaching appointments since joining the Club. I have worked closely with Joe & Nicky as both a player and a Head Coach, and I know the qualities that Tony will bring to our talented goalkeeping department. Those, alongside our existing staff, will have a huge impact both on and off the field at our Football Club. 

“They all bring a wealth of EFL experience, and I hope they can make positive contributions from day dot to help us work towards a successful season next term. They have already bought into the Football Club’s vision, and they’ll join us in our journey to bring the good times back to Wigan Athletic. 

“I would like to place on record my appreciation for the efforts of Stephen Gormal, Frankie Bunn, and Chris Brown. Stephen leaves with our best wishes, while I will always be thankful for the contributions of Frankie and Chris, who return to their roles in the Academy after helping myself and the team in the interim.”