WYCOMBE Wanderers chairman Andrew Howard says Blues would survive the financial blow of Wasps leaving High Wycombe.

Wasps have been tenants at Adams Park for 12 years, earning Wanderers what Howard describes as a ‘significant’ amount of money each season.

But although they now appear to be on the verge of move to Coventry, Howard has eased worried fans by insisting the football club could go it alone.

He said: “The reality of Wasps leaving Adams Park will cost us money, not make us money.

“At the end of the day the relationship that we have with Wasps contributes.

“I know what [the amount] is, but I don’t think it would be right to say. It is significant enough to hurt, but not big enough to topple us. That’s the key.

"Can Wycombe Wanderers survive without Wasps? Yes.

“Wycombe Wanderers will look after Wycombe Wanderers. My job is to ensure that Wycombe Wanderers survives.”

A decision on Wasps’ future could be made this week, with the Coventry City Council voting on their proposed move to the Ricoh Arena this afternoon.

Howard said: “The sooner we know the better because then we can start looking at our budgets for next year and cutting our cloth accordingly.

“It would have been great if we could have done a deal with Wasps to stay.

“At the end of the day you look at every single commercial option to keep Adams Park and Wycombe Wanderers in the positive.

“I think the past has proved the relationship can work.

“Had I been here longer could I have done it? I’m not arrogant enough to say yes.

“It’s a complex relationship that has had a lot of time and effort put into it.

“The reality is it works in other places and I think it could have worked here.

“Having been here 12 years, they’ve got a massively loyal fanbase that hopefully would have got back to the levels they used to be.”

However, Howard wants to turn this into an opportunity and is adamant Wanderers could thrive as the primary sporting club in the area.

He said: “Hopefully we’re going to show the Wycombe Wanderers fans there is a reason to come back to Adams Park.

“Hopefully we can put on a show on and off the pitch that grows our fanbase.

“We do want to make Wycombe Wanderers the principal sporting team of the area.

“We talk about spend per head and the amount a fan contributes, hopefully also commerce and local businesses will look at us as a good option to invest in from a sponsorship and advertising point of view.

“We want to build the trust back in a prosperous area.

“But if Wycombe is known for Wycombe Wanderers, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s something people can be very proud of.”