After eight years with
Walton & Hersham in a playing capacity, the club announced Dowson was to feature as player-manager in October 2004. Finishing as runners-up in his debut managerial campaign, Dowson also guided the club to the fourth round of the
FA Trophy while recording a record-breaking 13-match winning run in all competitions. Dowson announced his resignation from the Swans in January 2007, shortly before joining
Kingstonian. In his second full season as manager, he saw his side crowned champions of the
Isthmian Division One South and promoted to the Premier Division. The K's finished fifth upon their return to the seventh tier in the 2009–10 season, but missed out on back-to-back promotions, losing in the play-off final to
Boreham Wood. In his final season as manager of
Kingstonian, Dowson recorded his best league finish of second - following two seasons in a mid-table position. However, they failed to gain promotion once again after defeat in the play-offs semi-final. On 14 September 2014, Dowson was unveiled as manager at
Hampton & Richmond Borough. Joined by his familiar backroom staff, including
Premier League commentator
Martin Tyler, Dowson guided the Isthmian Premier Division side to a 12th-placed finish in his inaugural season. After a lacklustre 2014-15 campaign saw the Beavers finish 15th, Dowson led Hampton to become champions during the 2015–16 season, losing just seven league fixtures while scoring 105 goals. He was appointed
Woking manager in May 2018. In his first season in charge Dowson took Woking to a 2nd-placed finish, gaining promotion to the
National League with a 1–0 win against Welling United in the playoff-final. The club also enjoyed its most successful FA Cup run in almost two decades, defeating
Swindon Town to earn a famous home tie with Premier League club
Watford in the Third Round of the
FA Cup. Woking, the only Level 6 side left in the competition, lost the match 2–0. On 28 February 2022, Dowson was sacked by the club following a "prolonged run of poor form in the league", ending his four-year association with the
Surrey-based side. In May 2022 he became manager of
Dartford. Dowson oversaw an impressive start to the season that saw him awarded the National League South Manager of the Month award for October 2022. On 11 January 2024, Dowson was relieved of his management duties at Dartford. On 7 March 2024, Dowson was appointed manager of National League South club
Hemel Hempstead Town on an interim basis until the end of the season. He departed the club on 15 April 2024 with one match of the season remaining. In August 2025, Dowson joined National League club
Aldershot Town as a first-team coach. On 14 October 2025, following the resignation of manager
Tommy Widdrington, he was put in joint-caretaker charge alongside Hugo Langton. On 8 December 2025, Dowson returned to Hampton & Richmond Borough for his second spell as manager. == Career statistics ==