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Wycombe appoint League Two boss to replace QPR-bound manager

Wycombe Wanderers appoint League Two boss Matt Bloomfield to replace QPR-bound manager Gareth Ainsworth, all confirmed on Tuesday evening.

BBC Look East revealed that a deal was reached and that the U’s plan to appoint their third manager by the weekend.

The much-loved midfielder who scored 42 goals in 557 matches with the Chairboys has led the Essex-based team to the 18th position since taking over at the Colchester Community Stadium.

They are currently nine points below the drop zone with Bloomfield was awarded the Manager of Month award for January after he had collected 13 points in six games.

WYCOMBE STATEMENT:

Bloomfield, a club legend having amassed more than 500 appearances for Wycombe across an 18-year spell, took up his first managerial post in September, taking the reins at Colchester United and steering them well clear of the relegation zone in his five months in charge, earning the Sky Bet League 2 Manager of the Month award for January.

Ainsworth, widely renowned as the Wanderers’ greatest ever manager, became captain of Gary Waddock’s Wanderers before taking up a player-coach role and then becoming Waddock’s successor as manager in September 2012, going on to steer the club to safety from relegation in his first two seasons in charge before embarking on two promotion-winning campaigns, three trips to Wembley Stadium and a succession of cup adventures to achieve legend status at Wycombe Wanderers.

His finest hour came under the arch at Wembley in July 2020, guiding the club to the Championship for the first time in its history, and he leaves having just achieved the Blues’ best ever winning run in the third tier, collecting victories in nine of their last 12 matches.

Dobson has served as assistant manager throughout Ainsworth’s tenure at Adams Park, arriving initially to head up the club’s youth department in 2007 before stepping up to first-team duties in 2011. As a management team, they oversaw 550 matches in all competitions.

Comment from chairman Rob Couhig, plus Gareth Ainsworth and Matt Bloomfield, will follow throughout the week.

Everyone at Wycombe Wanderers will forever remember the memories created by – and the legacy left by – Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson throughout their time at Adams Park, and wishes the two of them, plus Josh, every success for the next chapter of their careers.

We now look forward to the future under Matt’s leadership, starting with Saturday’s trip to Shrewsbury Town, and welcome him back to Adams Park to begin an exciting new chapter in the history of Wycombe Wanderers.

QPR STATEMENT:

GARETH Ainsworth is QPR’s new head coach, agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal at Loftus Road.

After spending more than a decade as manager of Wycombe Wanderers, Ainsworth returns to Rangers, a club he made 152 appearances for between 2003 and 2010.

Ainsworth, who had two spells as caretaker manager in W12 during 2008/09, was a hugely popular figure amongst the fans for his passion and commitment in the blue and white hoops – and now he can’t wait for his new chapter with the R’s to begin.

“This is all a little bit surreal,” Ainsworth said. “It has been a whirlwind two days and leaving Wycombe Wanderers was very tough because of the connection there.

“But this is QPR and when I spoke about something special forcing me away from Wycombe, this was pretty special.

“It’s the club where I was most known for playing and you get moments in your career that resonate with you forever.

“I loved my time here as a player and hopefully I can go on and love my time here as a manager as well.”

Looking ahead to life in the QPR dugout, Ainsworth explained: “I really want to challenge myself. This is going to be a real challenge because the club is so special to me, and so huge as well.

“I want to get Loftus Road absolutely rocking again and I hope the fans will get right behind me and right behind the team.

“To be trusted by the Board here and those above me, I want to be able to pay them back in droves. I will be giving my absolute everything for this football club.”

QPR CEO Lee Hoos said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring Gareth in so quickly.

“I would like to thank Wycombe Wanderers for their professionalism. We have the utmost respect for them and are hugely sympathetic as we recognise the challenging nature of these circumstances.

“We wish them only the best for the remainder of the season and the future.

“Gareth’s determination to be a success is very evident and we are excited to see the impact he will have.”

Director of Football Les Ferdinand added: “After an encouraging start, this season has provided enormous challenges.

“We understand the frustration of the fans and are hugely grateful for their support.

“I know Gareth is looking forward to seeing them at Loftus Road on Saturday and he can’t wait to get going.”

Following Ainsworth from the Chairboys, Richard Dobson joins QPR as assistant head coach while Josh Hart comes in as a first-team analyst.

COLCHESTER STATEMENT:

It has been agreed in principle that Matt Bloomfield will join Wycombe Wanderers as their new Manager.

The Chairboys have acted quickly following the departure of Gareth Ainsworth to QPR, taking their former player and coach back to Buckinghamshire.

All the relevant paperwork is expected to be completed and signed imminently, but all aspects of the move have been agreed between the two clubs.

 

Bloomfield returns to his former club less than five months after joining the U’s as Head Coach back in October 2022.

The search for a new U’s Head Coach will begin immediately, and any further news will be announced in due course.

 

This is what fans are saying with Wycombe appoint League Two boss Matt Bloomfield to replace QPR-bound manager Gareth Ainsworth…

@JSR__93: I hope he fails miserably 🐍

@euancolu: Call the season off #ColU

@OfficialQPRFAN: Fair Play guys! Really hope you get play offs and hopefully see you next season! ⚽️❤️

@adn_hoops: With my Wycombe hat on, Gaz was a big reason I started taking a serious interest. Obviously words can’t do justice what he has done for the club but I’m delighted Blooms is back to carry on. Let’s make the play offs 👊💙

@Nimrod042: So sorry to see Gareth Ainsworth leave, his tenure hasn’t been plain sailing, but he leaves in a much better place than when he took over. I wish him every success for the future (except when we play the hoops) So pleased to see the club give Mr Wycombe this chance

@Alex_Perry26: can it get any worse mehmetti, mawson now ainsworth 😂

@sonny22363137: We’ve got super Gareth ainsworth

@RyanCarr347: Wow looks so strange to see him not in Wycombe gear but congratulations QPR stand by him and you will see a team that will give everything and you will fall in love with. Good luck Gareth thanks for everything

@EthenDaniel: Could honestly have given him a 12 year contract and I’d be happy, this man has proven he knows how to get the best out of his teams and stay a stable well performing team #QPR

@DazzerQPR: How times have changed. I was at every one of those games home and away to witness all those goals scored. Now I can’t be arsed to go anymore!

@LewisBP5: Knowing Mr Wycombe is coming back to take over does make the pain a little better. Build Gaz a statue and name a stand after him though! Living legend!

@tlmfootball: Thank you for everything Gareth. Best manager we’ve had in my lifetime and it’s not even close. It’s fitting that Blooms is the one to take on the reigns after him. Mr Wycombe is back 💙

@LiamQPRFC_: second half of the season we’re doing a title charge

@LewQPR:
We’ve got super gareth ainsworth
he knows exaclty what we need
kenneth at the back
and willock in attack
rangers going to the premier league (conference)
#qpr

@HamishMunro7: The beautiful irony of us taking it to the corner in the final few minutes of Ainsworth’s tenure in charge. Oh boy this announcement is going to hurt… #Chairboys

@TheLatestColU: Bloomfield has done so much. He was building a project and seemed the kind of person to be loyal to the club that for once backed the manager with a big window. But can you really blame him for taking the Wycombe job? It seems soon but its probably his dream job. I just hope this doesn’t mean someone like Wayne Brown again until the end of the season. Please Robbie and Dmitri, do not let this put you off going for external managers again. I think we’re just very unfortunate Ainsworth has left Wycombe when he has #ColU #Chairboys

@AnisMehmessi: From Torquay to the playoffs against Plymouth +Southend. From promotion to league 1 to beating Oxford in the playoffs. From the Championship to the playoff final against Sunderland. From all the fans to Gareth + his team we love you, thank you for the experiences and memories 💙

@PerryL_Nicholls: Nope nope nope 👎 😩

@ChisnallFreddie: Gained the trust of the board fans loved him was so passionate and to go so soon 😫

@NathanRef96: Cowling will never ever appoint outside the club again if this happens #colu

 

@jchandles: Might be too much too soon for Blooms I think, but it would be funny to snatch him back from Col U. Plus the bonus that he knows the club inside and out

@wwfcdrummer: Bloody hell I come of twitter for bit to get dm from someone to say we in talks with matty my god

 

@Lqprrr: disgraceful that we’ve made him wear a qpr coat, let him have the suit and the unbuttoned shirt it’s his character

@MilsteadMovies: Always loved him as a player, played for the shirt & never gave up. I remember his farewell speech to the R’s when he said he’d come back to us, even if it was only as a supporter

@benmcphn: Hope he does terribly, and takes them back to non league, massively overrated anyway x up the u’s

@Tonycllm77: Was always going to happen, disappointed but hopefully get someone in that can push on from what has already been achieved 💙

@ColchesterAlan: The club can’t keep hold of a decent manger until the end of the season not good enough

@MattCUFC_: Unbelievable, we gave him his first chance and he shits on us. I get that it’s Wycombe but he was saying coming to Colchester was much about the location. The bloke was whacking the badge only a couple of games back. Please recruit externally again #colu

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