A former Bracknell Town & District Sunday League midfielder is now the longest serving manager in the English Football League.
Gareth Ainsworth, a former Finchampstead Athletic Sunday player, and currently featuring for Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One East side Woodley United, took top spot in the ‘longest serving manager’ table after Jim Bentley left Morecambe for Vanarama National League side AFC Fylde – according to reports from BBC Lancashire Sport.
Ainsworth has been in charge of League One side Wycombe Wanderers since 24th September 2012 and recently celebrated his seventh year in charge of the club.
The experienced former QPR midfielder – who had recently been the subject of speculation around the then vacant Sunderland job – spoke recently to the EFL podcast about his continuing playing career.
He said: “For some reason I have still got my pace! I’m 46-years-old and I’m still as quick as I’ve ever been! Well maybe not as I’ve ever been but I’m still pretty quick and that always got me through my career so when that goes I’ll call it a day but I love the competition. I love just being, I think it’s being just a bit normal as well sometimes.”
Further reading: Gareth Ainsworth in The Guardian – ‘I’m more of a thinker now than I’ve ever been’
The Mirror – Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth insists only something special would make him leave
