The dilemmas facing Gareth Ainsworth after Wycombe’s play-off final defeat v Sunderland

It was heartbreak for Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. 

Having snuck into the League One play-off places on the final day of the season, Gareth Ainsworth’s side were unable to make the Chairboys’ dream of a return to the second-tier a reality this time around as they were defeated 2-0 by Sunderland.

Goals from Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart ensured it was the Black Cats that were heading for the Championship – leaving the Wycombe boss with plenty to ponder ahead of the summer.

Here, we’ve picked out some of the dilemmas facing Ainsworth following the Sunderland defeat.

One of, and possibly the biggest dilemma Gareth Ainsworth has to face is picking his side up after such a heart-breaking defeat and getting them to go again next season.

This doesn’t appear an easy task given how the teams that lost in the play-off finals fared this season.

Swansea City were defeated in the Championship play-off final and went on to finish 15th.

Lincoln City were defeated by Blackpool at Wembley in the League One play-offs last year and this season finished 17th.

Even though Newport County finished highest of the play-off finalists that lost in 2020/21, they still only finished 11th this season, which was still a considerable distance away from the play-ff spots.

Gareth Ainsworth must ensure his Wycombe side do not suffer a familiar fate next season.

Another big dilemma facing Gareth Ainsworth is replacing club legend Adebayo Akinfenwa, who is set to retire following the conclusion of the season.

Akinfenwa is truly unique in both his profile as a footballer, as well as his electric personality, and this will surely be a huge miss for the football club going forwards.

At 40-years-old Akinfenwa still scored a decent six