Preston North End are set to appoint Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe as Frankie McAvoy's successor, according to TalkSPORT.

The Lilywhites parted company with McAvoy yesterday evening and have moved swiftly to secure the 43-year-old, who has the Pilgrims sitting in fourth position in League One.

Lowe has been Plymouth manager since 2019 after swapping Bury for Devon - that came after winning promotion to League One at Gigg Lane and then the following season he did the same with Argyle.

Now he's set to return to the north west to manage in the Championship for the very first time, with sources in Lancashire revealing that the man PNE were going to turn to in the wake of McAvoy's departure was already in work.

Lowe, Callum Davidson and Gareth Ainsworth - the latter two being ex-North End players, were immediately linked but it is seemingly Lowe arriving at Deepdale to try and move PNE up the Championship table from the 18th position they currently sit in.

The Verdict

Lowe is clearly highly thought of in footballing circles and his name is often linked to top Championship jobs for the work he's done with Plymouth.

They were on a long unbeaten run before a few recent losses in a row - could that run of form at Home Park suggest he knew a departure may have been coming?

It's a move that seemingly suits the former striker anyway as being a scouser it means North End are just down the road from where he will no doubt be basing himself again.

PNE have the players to be a top half Championship side but it didn't look as though they had the right head coach to progress - Ryan Lowe though is someone that is forward-thinking and should be able to get the best out of the squad.