Wycombe Wanderers: Luton Town switch should not be end of Matt Bloomfield journey | OneFootball

Wycombe Wanderers' next manager must be able to continue the journey that Matt Bloomfield started.

Wycombe Wanderers are hunting for a new manager after Matt Bloomfield left for Luton Town on Tuesday.

Saturday's trip to Mansfield Town will be the first time since late 2003, that neither one of Gareth Ainsworth nor Bloomfield will be involved in a Wycombe fixture. This particular stat signifies that the curtain has fallen on one of the most successful periods in the club's history.

For the first time in a very long time, the rumour mill is churning and Wanderers fans genuinely have no idea as to who will take the helm, following Bloomfield's departure. This has made for a nervous, yet exciting week ahead.

When Ainsworth departed in 2023, his successor was announced at the same time, meaning that the merry-go-round of names being linked with the vacancy didn't even have a chance to start moving. However, things were different this time.

The Chairboys will be looking to find a manager who has no previous affiliation to the club, which for the younger generation of supporters is something that will be alien to them after the two previous managers are club legends.

The ideal credentials of the next Wycombe manager

There are many different things to take into consideration when appointing a manager. For the first time at Wycombe, Dan Rice will have to outline what he's looking for in the next gaffer, and draw up a shortlist of candidates with the ideal credentials.

But, what are these credentials that Wycombe will be looking for? Well, the most obvious one will be the ability to come in and hit the ground running. With the Chairboys in a promotion fight, the owners wouldn't want the transition to have a negative effect on the pitch.

The new manager mustn't try to reinvent the wheel, as Bloomfield has already assembled a successful system. Continuing that clinical attacking football is key for the next manager, as they continue the journey that their predecessor started.

It's also well known that data has driven the transfer business thus far, which was outlined by the new ownership group when they took over in the summer. Someone confident in working with data to identify transfer targets and on-pitch strengths and weaknesses. With Wycombe looking to the Scandinavian market in the January transfer window, potentially someone with experience out there would be a good fit.

Of course, a young manager would also be a more likely candidate, as the project at Adams Park is a long-term one. Similarly to Thomas Frank at Brentford, Wycombe will want someone who can develop themselves into a top manager, whilst remaining loyal to the club.

Ex-Plymouth manager could continue Wycombe's journey

With ambitious owners who have a long-term vision to take the Buckinghamshire club to the Premier League, the available job at Adams Park will be a highly attractive project for many young managers.

Of the names discussed as potential replacements, Steven Schumacher is the one that is hard to look past.

The 40-year-old has been out of work since September last year after Stoke City harshly sacked the ex-Plymouth Argyle favourite. Whilst his time at the Bet365 Stadium was largely forgettable, his time in Devon can't be ignored after the success he brought. As mentioned, the former midfielder is the same age as Bloomfield, aligning with the idea of appointing another young manager.

A proven League One winner, Schumacher's history aligns with Wycombe's goals this season, which is a big boost for his chances. It seems completely bizarre that the once Argyle hero is still unemployed, and the League One promotion-chasers should take full advantage of this to bring him to Adams Park.

Heading into the promotion fight, having a manager who has been there before and successfully got the job done could be key and one that can help the club extend the journey started by Bloomfield. With the backing of the board who are willing to splash the cash on players to put the squad in the best possible position, Schumacher could thrive at Wycombe.