Wycombe Wanderers

Odds: 12/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 6 (League Two), 2004/05 – 10 (League Two), 2003/04 – 24 (League One, Relegated),
2002/03 – 18 (League One), 2001/02 – 11 (League One).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup First Round vs Northampton Town (h) – lost 3-1.

Carling Cup Second Round vs Aston Villa (h) – lost 8-3.

Football League Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final vs Walsall (a) – lost 3-2.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Tommy Mooney (striker) – 19 goals.

Players In

Sam Stockley (Colchester United – Free), Chris Palmer (Notts County – Free), Anthony Grant (Chelsea – Loan).

Players Out

Roger Johnson (Cardiff City – £275,000), Joe Burnell (Northampton Town – Free), Clint Easton (Gillingham – Free), Charlie Griffin (Forest Green Rovers – Loan).

Wycombe Wanderers looked certs for promotion last season until a spectacular collapse towards the end of the campaign in which they lost seven of their last 10 matches. Their poor form stretched back even further and since the turn of the New Year, in 21 matches they won just six times.

From automatic promotion contenders, the club just about scraped into the final play off place and lost 2-1 on aggregate to Cheltenham Town in the semi finals. Following manager John Gorman’s departure to Northampton Town, Wycombe have appointed former Scottish international Paul Lambert as their new boss.

Lambert, who won 40 international caps for Scotland and played for Celtic and German side Borussia Dortmund where he won the Champions League was the unanimous choice of the board but he has a difficult job on his hands.

Wycombe have been rocked by the departure of several influential players, most notably captain Roger Johnson to Championship outfit Cardiff City. Johnson had spent his entire career at Adams Park and started almost 150 games for the club. His transfer fee of £275,000 will be paid in instalments while the club rejected an earlier bid of £100,000 from Swansea City.

Luton Town are the preferred destination for defender Danny Senda following his decision not to sign a new contract at the club. The Hatters had a bid for the right back turned down earlier in the year but now look set to sign him for nothing.

Former manager Gorman has swooped to sign midfielder Joe Burnell for new club Northampton on a free transfer following two years at Wycombe. Burnell started his career at Bristol City where he made over 150 appearances. Midfielder Clint Easton, who made over 50 appearances for Wycombe last season, has joined Gillingham on a free transfer while veteran Robert Lee has also left the club.

Verdict

This is likely to be a transitional season for Wycombe and new manager Paul Lambert will face an uphill task to replace the players who have left the club. The club has the potential to reach the play offs again although the supporters may need to be patient and accept a mid table season this time around.