Wanderers have confirmed that the ‘long-term’ contract handed to Gareth Ainsworth in December will run for five-and-a-half years.

The deal is the largest length contract handed out by an English football club since Alan Pardew penned an eight-year extension to his deal at Newcastle in 2012.

The Blues boss signed his new contract before the Boxing Day game against Luton Town at Adams Park but the club have only now revealed the duration of the deal having previously declined to do so.

Chairman Andrew Howard says Ainsworth is the right man for the job and has backed him to see bring success to the club.

He said: “Gareth is the perfect fit for Wycombe Wanderers – that’s never been in doubt since the day I walked into the club and he will play a huge part in what we see as being a bright future.

“He has the utmost respect of his staff, players and everyone who works for Wycombe Wanderers, and his new contract gives security both to the club and to him so that we can all plan for the future with him as our manager.

“Wycombe Wanderers have a great opportunity with Gareth and many of the players, who are in the early stages of their respective careers, and they want to prove how good they can be. Our job is to help that happen and that way the club benefits along the way or if they leave the club. People who tend to succeed are those who are willing to invest in development time in the early stages of their careers.

“Gareth and the players are being given that level of development and the club is currently reaping the rewards. There may be ups and downs along the way but we now have a five-year plan – survival, security and then success.”