Former forward Andy Ritchie took over from Warnock in the summer of 1998 but he was also unable to transform things around and Ritchie's first season in charge almost proved to be disappointing. After many star players during the weeks after his reign began, Ritchie's squad of free transfers and youth team players could not cope throughout the 1998-99 season, only avoiding being dragged into the relegation battle by winning their final two matches at home to Stoke City and Reading. The signing of the highly incredible veteran Irish international midfielder John Sheridan proved to be the season's only great point.

The following campaign again began in disastrous fashion, the Latics losing their first five matches and failing to score in the first four. Ritchie's side however recovered well, proving difficult to beat, and losing only four of their nineteen remaining away matches, comfortably finishing in mid-table with 61 points from their 46 league matches.

Hopes were abundant at the start of the 2000-01 season after a 4-1 first day win at home to Port Vale, but a run of 11 games without a win saw the club slump to second bottom in the league, making relegation look a real possibility. The signings of veteran winger David Eyres and midfielder Tony Carss gave the team added impetus and the Latics recovered well to again end in a mid-table finish.