Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has spoken about being linked with the current vacancy at Preston North End.

PNE recently fired Alex Neil, on Sunday, March 21, after a dismal run of form which saw Preston win one of nine league matches.

This included a defeat against Wanderers on March 13, and following their 1-0 home loss against Luton Town on March 20, North End decided to relieve Neil of his duties.

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After the news, Gareth Ainsworth, who had two spells at the club, was shortlisted as one of the favourites to take over at Deepdale.

He said: “Obviously, it's a huge club, one of the original six members of the Football League with a glorious history.

“I'm glad to say I'm a part of that history with my league debuts and my 150 first-team appearances for that club.

“So, I’m really proud and it is an honour to be linked with that managerial job as it is such a huge club.

“I'm sat here as Wycombe manager and taking control of Wycombe tomorrow and now we can say Wycombe is a big club a lot bigger than it was and I'm really proud to play a part of that history.”

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It is not the first time that Ainsworth has been linked away from Wanderers since taking over at the club as in October 2019, rumours circulated that he was due to take over at Sunderland after the Black Cats sacked Jack Ross.

Nicky Butt, Grant McCann, Frank Lampard, Roy Keane and former Wycombe boss Martin O’Neill have all also been linked to the vacancy.