Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth has revealed that the Chairboys are ‘preparing as a Championship club’, following the EFL’s decision to punish Derby County.

The Rams, who avoided relegation on the final day of the season [May 8] at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and Wanderers, could be expelled from the Championship for breaching the EFL’s financial rules between 2016 to 2018.

What the EFL said

The footballing body have since revealed in a lengthy statement that was released on June 23 that the club, who are managed by Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney, will be fined £100,000, but the future of what leagues both clubs will play in next season is yet to be confirmed.

Bucks Free Press: Will Wycombe be playing at Adams Park next season Championship?Will Wycombe be playing at Adams Park next season Championship?

READ MORE: Derby fined £100k for breaching EFL rules as Wycombe wait

If Derby are demoted to League One, Wycombe will replace them as they finished one point and one place behind the Midlands side.

The EFL also revealed that despite fining Derby, a disciplinary process' is still being 'finalised’.

Speaking on the topic, manager Gareth Ainsworth has said: “We are preparing as a Championship club which is important as we want to be a Championship club, with Championship standard.

“We learnt plenty of lessons last year as we didn’t start well at all and that was probably a combination of having a little bit of faith into the League One team that came up, an aging League One team, and we spoke to players and discussed it, and we thought we needed some new blood in.

“And once that new blood came into the team, we saw in the second half of the season we were fantastic.

Bucks Free Press: David Stockdale came into the starting 11 in February as played every game until the end of the season (PA)David Stockdale came into the starting 11 in February as played every game until the end of the season (PA)

“There’s still room for the old guard without a doubt, but I think with some of the exciting signings we have made, they have really affected the squad and it rose their levels.

Bucks Free Press: Alex Pattison is one of the players who has since left the club this summer ahead of the new season (Prime Media)Alex Pattison is one of the players who has since left the club this summer ahead of the new season (Prime Media)

“And once you feel that you can compete with people, the confidence levels rise and the shackles come off.

READ MORE: Wycombe's League One fixtures are out...but the club could still be a Championship side next season

“We believe we can compete with anyone, and if that is League One again, we believe we can get promoted as we have done it once, and if it is the Championship, then we will carry on where we left off.”

Currently, Wycombe are registered as a League One side and they are due to play Accrington Stanley at Adams Park on the first day of the league season (August 7).