Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has once again been linked to the vacant role at Queens Park Rangers.

The 49-year-old, who only signed a new-and-improved deal with the Chairboys in the summer, is high on the West London club's candidate list following Mick Beale’s departure to Rangers in November.

First reported by Sky Sports News, the national outlet stated that Ainsworth is ‘under serious consideration’ to be the new manager of the club.

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However, it has also been reported by SSN that even though the former QPR midfielder is a contender for the role, the club has had talks with the ex-Blackpool boss, Neil Critchley.

Discussions with the former Liverpool and Aston Villa coach are set to be at an ‘advanced stage’.

Wycombe Wanderers have said: “The club doesn’t comment on speculation of this nature.”

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Ainsworth spent seven years as a player with QPR where he made 152 appearances and scored 22 goals.

During his time at Loftus Road, he also had two separate spells as caretaker manager in the 2008/09 season.

Across those periods, he took charge of 11 games, which resulted in three wins, six defeats, and two draws.

Since being at Wycombe, Ainsworth has been in charge of 539 matches, with 211 of those competitive fixtures resulting in wins.