fulfil their potential had to go and be replaced by players with some passion who "could get bums off seats at Gigg Lane". After a shaky start to the season in which the new team found its feet, Bury had reached fourth place in the table when they travelled to promotion rivals Mansfield Town on Boxing Day. They lost that match and dropped to sixth place but then began an unbeaten run which firmly established them in the top three. In addition, Lowe led them to the semi-final stage of the EFL Trophy, Bury's best-ever showing in this tournament, before they were defeated by League One Portsmouth. In recognition of his success in turning the team around, Lowe was three times awarded the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award – in November 2018, January 2019 and February 2019. Plymouth Argyle On 5 June 2019, Lowe was announced as manager of Plymouth Argyle, guiding them to a third-place finish and an immediate return to League One in a season interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. After guiding his side to four wins and two draws from six matches during an 17 game unbeaten run in the league, in a month that saw Plymouth top the League One table, Lowe was named EFL League One Manager of the Month for October 2021. On 7 December 2021, Lowe resigned as Plymouth manager, with the club fourth in League One. Preston North End Immediately following his departure from Plymouth on 7 December 2021, Lowe was appointed manager of Championship side Preston North End. Style of management Lowe's managerial style has been influenced by Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Rafa Benítez and Lowe's long-time friend Steven Gerrard, among others. He is attack-minded, and Bury in 2018–19 were one of the Football League's highest-scoring teams; their style, described as "gung-ho", soon brought success as the club finished second in League Two and earned promotion back to League One. Lowe explained in an interview with The Guardian that he wanted to instil a "winning philosophy" and that, by outscoring their opponents, Bury would have a greater chance of achieving that goal. The on-field strategy is effectively a 3-1-4-2 formation. Career statistics Managerial statistics Honours Player Sheffield Wednesday League One runner-up: 2011–12 Bury League Two runner-up: 2010–11; promotion: 2014–15 Shrewsbury Town Conference National play–offs: 2004 Individual PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 Football League