Post by Macmoish on Jan 1, 2011 22:00:28 GMT
(And he scored today!)
Buckingshire Advertiser
Ainsworth rules himself out of running for Port Vale job
Jan 1 2011 By Greg Burns
WYCOMBE captain Gareth Ainsworth has quashed speculation linking him with the manager's job at former club Port Vale.
The 37-year-old is a hero at Vale Park despite spending just one season at the club in 1997/98 season.
When he for Premier League Wimbledon he commanded a £2m price– still a club record fee – and he was cheered when Wanderers travelled to Vale Park in November.
Bookmakers have given odds of 20/1 for Ainsworth to leave Wanderers and take up the reins at the Valiants after Micky Adams left the post to take over at Sheffield United this week.
But, while Ainsworth does not hide his managerial ambitions after caretaker spells at QPR, he insists he is not ready yet.
Speaking after netting the winner in Wycombe's win at Cheltenham, Ainsworth ruled himself out of the running.
He said: "Whenever one of my ex-clubs get a manager's vacancy I seem to get mentioned and it is a flattering thing because I do want to become a manager one day and that is something I want to pursue.
"But as far as I am concerned, at the moment, I just want to play football and I am enjoying playing under Gary Waddock, who I respect and who is a great manager.
"He is looking after me and I want to keep playing as long as I can and then I will think about that side of things after. I want to play for Wycombe and at the moment I am feeling pretty good still."
Wanderers leapfrogged Port Vale into the automatic promotion slots with their weekend win.
www.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/south-buckinghamshire-sport/2011/01/01/ainsworth-rules-himself-out-of-running-for-port-vale-job-82398-27919089/
