GAZ BACKS MATT TO BE TOP BOSS

'Chairboys lucky to have him'

- Chris Dunlavy

GARETH Ainsworth has backed Wycombe Wanderers to challenge for promotion to the Championship this season – and believes manager Matt Bloomfield is destined for the top regardless.

Fifth in League One ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, the Chairboys have a budget that is dwarfed by the likes of Wrexham, Birmingham and Stockport.

But financial limitations didn’t prevent club legend Ainsworth winning a historic promotion to the second tier in 2020 and the 51-year-old says it won’t stop his old captain either.

“I’m proud of everything I’ve done in management,” said Ainsworth, whose ten-and-ahalf-year reign at Adams Park came to an end in February 2023 when he departed for an bleak eight-month stint at former club QPR.

“But one of my proudest moments is sitting down with (former owner) Rob Couhig before I left Wycombe and saying ‘Get Matt Bloomfield in’.

“I’m not saying I was wholly responsible. It was Rob who made the decision and it’s Matt who has delivered. But to have played a part is brilliant.