DAVID LOWE says he looks upon his return to a full-time coaching role with Tranmere as “a fantastic challenge.”

The former Wigan and Ipswich front man, the latest recruit to Les Parry’s backroom staff, reckons he is returning to the kind of job he loves best.

Lowe worked under Paul Jewell at Wigan Athletic and Derby County over the last decade and has also coached coaches on courses for the PFA. Most recently the Liverpudlian was doing part-time work with Manchester United when the call came in from Rovers.

Lowe said: “I did not have too much of a decision to make because I knew this is something I am going to enjoy.

“Obviously we know the squad was a little thin when I arrived and we’ve been working to improve that. But it is a fantastic opportunity for me to improve the players on the training ground here.”

Parry turned to Lowe beacuse he believes the imput and the voice of a second senior coach on the training ground is important. Parry has only a basic coaching qualification and leaves assistant manager Kevin Summerfield to direct coaching on a day to day basis.

“You don’t want training sessions turning into Groundhog Day, with the same voice saying the same things to the players day after day,” Parry said. “If I did some coaching myself it might not be such an issue because I would provide the second voice. David Lowe will do that. He has lots of experience and I know it’s going to make a valuable contribution for us this season.”

Lowe added: “Of course Kevin Summerfield is the assistant manager and Les will have the final say on things but hopefully I can make a contribution with my experience and the knowledge I have acquired over the years.

“For me working with footballers day-to-day is like a drug and I have not been involved with the team for quite a while.”

When Jewell lost his job at Derby last season, Lowe followed him -- but not before he guided the Rams to a memorable 1-0 win over Manchester United in a Carling Cup semifinal first-leg at Pride Park.

Lowe’s 600-plus game playing career began at Wigan in 1983. He moved to Ipswich and ‘87 and Leicester City and ‘92. He returned to Wigan in March ‘96 and finished with brief spells in the bottom division with Wrexham and Rushden and Diamonds.

Lowe said: “When I finish playing in 2000, I went into coaching education with the PFA, helping ex-professionals who wanted to get onto the coaching ladder.”

The 44-year-old has experience at every level of the game. He made sure he kept in touch while he was without a club. “I tried to watch as many games as I could,” Lowe said. “I am finding out more about teams in this division and the players here.”

Lowe is part of a backroom set up Prenton Park that evolved over the summer. Parry has lost the two senior coaches who helped him to guide Rovers to League One safety over the final seven months of last season. Wayne Allison was the first to go, then Shaun Garnett made the switch from first-team duties to become Tranmere’s head of youth..

A goalkeeper coach, Dave Timmins, arrived and departed within a couple of weeks in July after receiving a call from his former boss Paul Simpson at Stockport. He was replaced last week by Australian Simon Miotto.

Steve Walker, another Scouser, has replaced Parry as physiotherapist.

Lowe said: “Les’s history says he is a legendary figure here.

“He comes across really well with his knowledge and passion. Hopefully I can be part of the success story here.”