Shrewsbury Coach Gareth Ainsworth Prepares for Wycombe Reunion

Shrewsbury Town’s head coach, Gareth Ainsworth, anticipates an emotional encounter this Saturday as his current team faces his former club, Wycombe Wanderers, who are currently leading League One. Ainsworth took on the role at Shrewsbury Town in November. The 51-year-old spent a total of 13 years with the Chairboys, initially as a player, making 118 appearances, and later serving in roles such as player-coach and caretaker manager. He then became their permanent manager in November 2012, a position he held until February 2023, when he departed to join Queens Park Rangers. Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, Ainsworth stated, “Wycombe will be special on Saturday. It’s the first time I’ve managed against them. It is the first time I’ve ever wanted Wycombe Wanderers to lose as a manager and that’s going to be a weird feeling.” Regardless of the emotions Ainsworth experiences upon welcoming his former team to Shropshire, he is not expected to conceal them, a characteristic evident from Shrewsbury’s 3-2 victory in his inaugural match as manager against Birmingham City, a prominent League One club, in November. Ainsworth commented on that occasion, saying, “After the Birmingham game, I came in the office and I was the most emotional person ever. I was back in football. We’d just had that massive scalp – I could have broke down in tears. I believe it’s a big strength. People hide their emotions, I totally use them and live off them.” While Ainsworth will undoubtedly experience sentimentality during the visit of his former club, his primary focus, despite any affection for Wycombe, will be directed towards his current team. He added, “I’ll be smiling, because I’m proud of what that club is and I loved my time there. But I’m loving Shrewsbury. It’s a nice place. Everyone I’ve met, everyone I’ve seen. They are all positive, they are all very understanding. I’m excited about lifting this place.” Defeating Wycombe will present a significant challenge. Matt Bloomfield’s Chairboys are currently enjoying an impressive 16-game unbeaten streak in League One, which has propelled them to the top of the standings, sharing the same points total as Wrexham. In contrast, Shrewsbury occupies the bottom position in the league with 11 points, level with Burton Albion. They have suffered six defeats in their last seven league matches, with their sole victory during this period coming against Birmingham. “Wycombe are a fantastic team,” he stated. “They’ve got a brilliant manager who is a phenomenal person as well. But we can do it, my boys can definitely do that, and it’s something that Matt Bloomfield will know. He knows I’m not going to lie down and say ‘oh come on, it’s one of my favourite clubs so come and beat us’ – absolutely not. May the best team win. I just hope it’s mine!”