Football Season Guide

Wycombe Wanderers return for their first season back in League One after a six-year absence. It has been a tough six years for the Chairboys following the takeover by the Supporters Trust and they have been rewarded for the loyalty shown in manager Gareth Ainsworth. A miraculous escape from relegation in 2014 was followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat in a play-off final in 2015. 2018 saw them seal automatic promotion on the penultimate weekend of the season with victory at Chesterfield. A third place finish was a huge achievement for Ainsworth, who has built a small squad on meagre resources. One of his biggest signings, in every sense, was striker Adebayo Akinfenwa from AFC Wimbledon in 2016, who has proved to a focal point and talisman for the team. The Islington born marksman has finished as leading goalscorer with 18 goals in both seasons. The only departure of note this summer has been goalkeeper Scott Brown, who was an ever-present between the sticks, and has joined Port Vale to be closer to home. Ainsworth has brought in former loan goalkeeper Ryan Allsop on a permanent three-year deal from AFC Bournemouth. He is one of only three additions to the squad with midfielder Curtis Thompson having signed a short-term deal following a loan spell from Notts County last season. Defender Darius Charles has joined on a one-year contract after rejecting the offer of a new deal at AFC Wimbledon. The modest transfer activity illustrates the sense of stability at Adams Park with Ainsworth himself having signed a contract extension this summer which would keep him at the club until 2023. He followed in the footsteps of defenders Joe Jacobson and Sido Jombati and midfielder Marcus Bean in signing new deals at the club. The Chairboys have been relegated in both of their previous seasons in League One and face a real challenge to avoid a similar fate this time around.