MATT Bloomfield says he's not surprised at how well Gareth Ainsworth has adapted to becoming player-coach at Wycombe Wanderers.

The 39-year-old is winding down his playing career and is now starting to focus on what he'll do when he hangs up his boots, which is likely to be at the end of the season.

Bloomfield says Ainsworth is making a great impact on the training ground working alongside manager Gary Waddock and his assistant Richard Dobson.

Blues' longest serving player said: "He's taken to it really well. Knowing him from the last few years at the latter stages of his playing career, you could see there was a coach or a manager in him.

"It hasn't surprised me how well he's taken to it to be honest. He's a great coach, he knows what he's talking about after the career he's had and some of the different characters he's worked for. He seems to have taken a bit from each of them to try and use in his coaching methods.

"The lads have taken to him well. They respect what he says, don't cross any boundaries that can't be crossed, but equally Gaz is the link between the lads and the management. He can still have a bit of banter, he's there in amongst the boys as well.

"Gaz has always had the respect of the boys, even when he was a player. Nothing much has changed on my part, I respect his opinion as a player and I respect his opinion now as a coach."

Ainsworth is still registered as a player, although he's lost the captaincy to Gary Doherty, but admits he's unlikely to play much of a part on the pitch this season.

Bloomfield said: "You can tell sometimes he's itching to get back out there but that's the way he is. I don't think he'll ever change."