Why Wycombe should keep Akinfenwa and Bloomfield next season

Long-serving hero Matt Bloomfield, who’s made more than 500 appearances for the Chairboys, and Adebayo Akinfenwa, the club’s leading goalscorer in the Football League era, may have played their last games for Wycombe.

Bloomfield is under contract until next summer, but it’s a deal which includes coaching responsibilities.

That’s something he’s been doing for much of this campaign after struggling to produce his best at Championship level.

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Matt Bloomfield has helped out with the coaching this season, as well as playing for the club - here he is pictured with manager Gareth Ainsworth before the 0-0 draw against Millwall on February 20 (Prime Media)

The 37-year-old came off the bench briefly on the final day of the season against Middlesbrough for his first playing appearance since the 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on February 6.

Akinfenwa, meanwhile, is currently in negotiations about a new deal.

He also took a back seat for much of the second-half of the season, but did of course score that memorable late winner against Bristol City.

This was his first and only goal of the season, and his first since the 3-1 away lost to one of his old clubs in Doncaster Rovers on February 29, 2020.

There’s no doubt that both players would still be a considerable asset to the club even in a non-playing capacity, with their incredible experience potentially of great use to younger members of the squad.

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Matt Bloomfield played 19 matches this season across three competitions, scoring once. Here he is ordering his team in the 4-1 win against Preston North End in the FA Cup on January 9 (Adams Park)

The pair could still play a bit-part role in League One despite their combined age of 76, but should the unlikely happen with the potential Derby County points deduction and Wanderers stay up by default, you feel a coaching role would be the most either of them would be given.

Of course, Akinfenwa is a significant figure in more places than just Adams Park, so he may want to pursue other avenues, and that will play a part in any negotiations.

Bloomfield, meanwhile, or ‘Mr Wycombe’ as he’s known, will surely want to stay at the club as long as possible. I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he was the manager a few years down the line.

Darius Charles is also leaving the club after his miraculous recovery from near-retirement saw him become one of the stars of the 2019/20 promotion campaign.

The defender didn’t get too much game time in the Championship, but he hinted after departing that he may well be back at Adams Park in some capacity in the future.

Akinfenwa captained the side on a few occassions, which included in the 0-0 draw against Huddersfield Town on November 24 (Prime Media)

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It would be a shame if Bloomfield and Akinfenwa made their final on-the-pitch contributions in a behind-closed-doors environment, and if they have, hopefully something can be sorted out so the fans can give them a deserved send-off for their exceptional service.

Most of the building blocks are in place for a successful campaign next time around, and it’s more about developing the current squad than it is about recruitment.

Matt Bloomfield celebrates scoring his first and only goal of the season in the 1-1 draw against Derby County on November 28 with Adebayo Akinfenwa (Prime Media)

Wycombe have had massive re-building jobs on various occasions recently, but if a few new additions can be mentored by the likes of Bloomfield and Akinfenwa, it could be another special season.