Wigan Athletic have confirmed the departure of former Lincoln City coach Mike Garrity as part of the ongoing fallout from the sacking of head coach Ryan Lowe.
The 45-year-old had only joined the Latics’ coaching staff last month, but his exit was confirmed in a club statement released on Monday evening as Wigan outlined plans to make a swift managerial appointment.
Former City Coach Leaves Wigan
Garrity’s departure was announced alongside wider changes at the Brick Community Stadium, with Wigan currently in the League One relegation zone following a heavy defeat at Peterborough United at the weekend. In a statement addressing supporters, the club confirmed that Garrity had left with immediate effect, thanking him for his efforts during a short spell at the club.
The statement read: “It is also appropriate to announce that Mike Garrity has also departed the club. We thank Mike for his efforts over the past month.”
Wigan also confirmed that Graham Barrow and Glenn Whelan will take temporary charge of first-team affairs while the recruitment process for a new head coach is underway. The club reiterated its intention to make a swift appointment, with the board keen to ensure the next head coach is in place as soon as possible and able to engage directly with supporters.
For Lincoln City supporters, Garrity’s name is a familiar one. He joined City’s coaching staff in June 2022 following the departure of Neil Critchley from Blackpool, becoming assistant to then-head coach Mark Kennedy. Garrity played a significant role in City’s strong early run under Kennedy, which saw just two defeats in the first 12 matches of his tenure, a sequence that culminated in a memorable 6-3 victory away at Bristol Rovers.
Even by the time Garrity left the club in December 2022, City had suffered only five league defeats, fewer than sides sitting in the play-off positions at that stage, despite being placed 14th in the table. His departure was followed by a downturn in results, with City winning just four of their next 22 matches across league and cup competitions.
Career Tied Closely To Critchley
Much of Garrity’s recent coaching career has been closely linked with Neil Critchley. The pair moved together from Liverpool’s academy setup to Blackpool in 2020, later reuniting at Queens Park Rangers, Blackpool for a second spell, and most recently at Heart of Midlothian. Garrity has also held coaching roles with Molde and in China, adding to a varied coaching background.
After leaving Lincoln, Garrity followed Critchley to QPR, where the pair were dismissed in early 2023, before returning to Blackpool later that year. Their most recent spell together at Blackpool ended in August 2024, when both were sacked, with Garrity later joining Critchley again at Hearts for a brief period.
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