"As for LCC at MAN, the rumour has been around for some time now and has still to materialise."
Errr......what about Hapag Lloyd Express, then?
They're selling tickets like hot cakes and the prices they're quoting for Ringway to Cologne most definitely place them in the "low-cost" bracket.
Also we should remember that, despite their protestations, Ryanair continue to serve the Ringway - Dublin route albeit at a reduced frequency but with larger aircraft (737-800 vs 737-200) on peak flights.