Football Season Guide

The Chairboys will be hoping to overcome the disappointment of missing out on an immediate return to the Championship last season. They can have no complaints after being beaten in the League One play-off final by Sunderland at Wembley back in May and they will be looking to go one better this time around. It has been a rather underwhelming summer however with just three low-key additions to date. Midfielders Christie Ward and Jasper Pattendon were playing for Brockenhurst and Worthing respectively last season whilst striker D’Mani Mellor barely featured for Salford City whilst on loan from Manchester United. None of them look like going straight into the first team. They certainly aren’t replacements for experienced goalkeeper David Stockdale and centre-back Anthony Stewart, who have left to join Sheffield Wednesday and Aberdeen respectively. The emergence of Chris Forino-Joseph softens the blow of Stewart’s departure but with the start of the season fast approaching, the loss of Stockdale looms large. There has also been a third departure with the talismanic Adebayo Akinfenwa having retired from football. He leaves having become the Chairboys leading Football League goalscorer and, whilst his presence on the pitch will be certainly missed, it will be even more keenly felt in the dressing room. The reminder of the squad does look strong however and no one should underestimate the ability of long-standing manager Gareth Ainsworth to get the best out of his players. The Chairboys will be one of the most competitive and awkward sides to play against again this season.