Wanderers chairman Andrew Howard revealed to supporters on Tuesday night just how close the club had come to signing fans’ favourite Alfie Mawson.

Speaking at a Wycombe Wanderers Trust members’ meeting, the Blues chairman admitted that the club had been attempting to sign the 21-year-old since as far back as November last year.

After arriving on an initial one-month loan deal 24 hours before the beginning of last season, Mawson went onto make 50 appearances, win Players’ Players and Fans’ Player of the Year and earn a nomination for the League Two Player of the Year award.

Wanderers fans had been hopeful that the former Brentford man would return to Adams Park but after a host of clubs in League One and reported interest from the Championship the defender chose to sign for Barnsley.

“I know everyone is pining for Alfie and just as a bit of light heartedness we had verbally agreed with Alfie to sign for Wycombe Wanderers when I drove over to Luton,” said Howard.

“When I drove home from Luton we did not have Alfie signed for Wycombe Wanderers, and that’s how fickle the nature of the world is.

“We have worked very, very hard and we’ve been trying to get Alfie into the club since November. Alfie is destined for greater things.

“His management and Alfie have been massively respectful of this club and, from my point of view, that is certainly one of the agents who has done a proper job.”

It would appear that even Mawson’s old club were keen to strengthen their already strong bond with Blues by persuading the sought after youngster to sign for the Chairboys.

The club chairman said: “Mark Devlin, CEO from Brentford, phoned me, knowing that Alfie was going that morning, just to apologise and say “we did everything we could to get him to you guys”. We will keep the relationship with Brentford going.”

With Mawson now preparing for life in a higher division, Gareth Ainsworth will seek to get the best out of Anthony Stewart, who he bought back to the club after his release from Crewe.

There will be more signings to come with Howard indicating that the plan is to begin the season with 18 contracted players – they currently have 16 – plus any additions to the squad via the loan market.

Wanderers signed six players on loan during the duration of last season and Howard once again expects them to busy in that area.

“From a team point of view, we’ve bought Anthony Stewart back and he has great prospects going forward,” he said. “We’ve obviously got Mr Thompson up front and when you see Mr Thompson – he’s just come out of the fitness absolutely stunningly, absolutely brilliantly.

“We’ve got a couple of young lads coming in as well. We’re looking for a mixture of youth and experience as we’ve always done, but we do feel that Wycombe Wanderers is a fantastic proving ground for youth and we want youth to come forward. From that point of view, it gives us assets to sell later on and gives a good grounding to the team.”