Luke Williams pleased to keep Kyrell Lisbie after hat-trick in drubbing of Wigan

Wigan sacked head coach Ryan Lowe after their 6-1 drubbing at Peterborough.

Kyrell Lisbie’s hat-trick and goals from Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Harry Leonard and Pemi Aderoju sent the Latics into the League One relegation zone.

The Latics declined requests by the media for manager Lowe or a player to be interviewed after the dismal display as speculation surrounding his future at the club intensified.

And at 10.15pm on Saturday, Wigan officially said they had parted company with their boss after a fourth defeat in five winless games.

“Wigan Athletic can confirm that they have parted company with head coach Ryan Lowe,” a club statement read.

“In the interim, Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will take on first-team matters, and the club will work quickly to identify and appoint a new head coach.

“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Ryan for his efforts and wishes him all the best for the future.”

Peterborough boss Luke Williams earlier revealed his delight at the winter transfer window shutting after hat-trick hero Lisbie’s treble fired Posh to victory.

Williams’ side snaffled the talented youngster from non-league Braintree ahead of the season and he has now netted 12 goals this term, with six coming in his last seven league games.

Lisbie got the party started with a quickfire brace before Joe Taylor got Wigan on the board.

But goals from Morgan, Leonard and Aderoju swept the Latics away before Lisbie rounded off the scoring.

Williams said: “We’re blessed with goalscoring instincts, aren’t we? We saw that with Kyrell Lisbie.

“The only thing left to say is hands off. I’m glad that window’s shut.

“I’m not surprised because if you doubt Darragh [MacAnthony, owner] or Barry’s [Fry, sporting director] ability to spot a player then you’re crazy.  You should never doubt that.

“Yet again they have found a talented player in the lower leagues who looks like he can play at any level.”

It was a convincing victory which got Posh back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.

Williams added: “It’s very pleasing. The game was a lot tougher than the scoreline suggests.

“The players were very tenacious in the tough moments. We had a ruthlessness in the big moments.

“We can be devastating when Kyrell breaks, we have Cian Hayes, we have Declan [Frith]. We have so much pace. We’re a problem in that way.

“This is something that’s great for us. If we control a game and build that way we can score goals, if we have to defend and counter we can score goals that way as well.

“We also looked a big threat from set-pieces as well.”