Ainsworth ready for 'special' Wycombe reunion

Ainsworth was appointed Shrewsbury Town head coach in November

Shrewsbury Town head coach Gareth Ainsworth is expecting an emotional reunion on Saturday when his new club host his old club, League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

The 51-year-old spent 13 years with the Chairboys, first as player, making 118 appearances, some as player-coach, then caretaker manager, before becoming manager in November 2012 until February 2023, when he left for Queens Park Rangers.

"Wycombe will be special on Saturday," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Shropshire. "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."

Whatever Ainsworth ends up feeling when he welcomes his former club to Shropshire, it'll be something he will not shy away from expressing, judged by Shrewsbury's 3-2 win in his first game in charge against League One heavyweights Birmingham City in November.

"After the Birmingham game, I came in the office and I was the most emotional person ever," said Ainsworth. "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."

Ainsworth will undoubtedly be feeling sentimental when his former club come to visit but, however much affection he holds for Wycombe, his outlook will firmly be on his new home.

"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."

Beating Wycombe will be no easy feat. Matt Bloomfield's Chairboys are on a staggering 16-game unbeaten run in League One that has put them top of the table, level on points with Wrexham.

Shrewsbury are bottom, on 11 points alongside fellow strugglers Burton Albion, having lost six of their last seven league games - their one win in that time having been against Birmingham.

"Wycombe are a fantastic team," he said. "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!"