Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth is ‘flattered’ to be linked with a vacant managerial role at a Championship club but insists he remains fully focused on the job in hand at Adams Park.

Earlier this week, Barnsley approached Wycombe to speak to Ainsworth about taking over the reins at Oakwell following the departure of Paul Heckingbottom to Leeds United but were rejected the chance to approach the 44-year-old.

However, speaking to the Bucks Free Press, Ainsworth said: “It is fantastically flattering to be linked to a Championship side but all I am focusing on is the next game at Cheltenham.”

Ainsworth has worked wonders at Adams Park since being appointed permanently in November 2012 and this season is leading Wanderers to a promotion push, with his side currently sitting third in the league.

The Chairboys have won six out of seven games in 2018 and produced a magnificent display to beat Swindon 3-2 in Tuesday evening.

Ainsworth had a hugely successful career as player for the likes of Preston, QPR and Lincoln and has achieved a magnificent 40 per cent win rate in his time at Adams Park.

Wanderers’ sporting director Andrew Howard said: “Gareth is under contract with us and continues to do an outstanding job, and therefore we are fully focused on continuing the progress we are making with him in charge.”

After the speculation concerning the Barnsley position, Ainsworth is now looking firmly ahead to the away game against Cheltenham Town tomorrow.

He said: “Cheltenham are a very good side, a big side. I remember from Adams Park earlier this season they have a lot of big boys in their team.

“Lincoln are another big side in this division and Lincoln and Cheltenham played each other in the week so we will be looking at that video.

“Gary Johnson [Cheltenham manager] has managed at a higher level and I have a lot of respect for Gary and we go back a long way.

“We had a good smile to each other with the 3-3 draw at home this season. Cheltenham for me got away with that with a push on Ebere Eze just before their equaliser at the end.

“I thought it was going to be our day but it doesn’t work like that sometimes and you have to finish the job and Gary has been around a long, long time.

“He knows how to play the game but if my players can perform how they have in recent weeks then we will hopefully get something out of the game and that is important to me.”

After a run of games against sides in and around the play-offs, the Blues now have a series of games against teams a bit further down the league and Ainsworth is relishing a different type of challenge.

He added: “It is always presents a different test. People came up with stats recently that we don’t beat anyone in the top seven and we have started doing that.

“I am treating every single game we go into that we can win and we have proved it by beating what is top of the league at the moment but also by beating the sides at the other end of the table.

“We have shown we can adapt and turn our game to anyone and if the boys can play to their full potential I am sure we have got enough in the tank to win the game but there is no way I will be going into this match over-confident, thinking we have won six out of seven.

“It is not a forgone conclusion at all, absolutely no chance. If anything I am even more wary that after a big run sometimes a fall can occur and I have to be careful that it doesn’t happen.”