Preston North End cult hero Gareth Ainsworth could now make a Championship return after opening talks with Queens Park Rangers.
The R’s chose to sack manager Neil Critchley on Sunday evening after just one win in 12 games.
That one win came against PNE in Critchley’s debut as QPR boss, but he was unable to win any of his next 11 and has already gone.
QPR are moving quickly to replace Critchley and have already opened talks to land a successor.
Sky Sports report that QPR are in talks with Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth over a return to Loftus Road.
Ainsworth joined QPR as a player back in 2003 and spent seven years with the club, racking up more than 150 appearances.
Ainsworth had two spells as QPR caretaker manager in 2008 and 2009, before moving on to Wycombe.
Manager since 2012, Ainsworth has worked miracles at Adams Park and guided Wycombe to promotion in 2020.
The Chairboys went down in 2021 but only after a real fight, and Ainsworth almost took Wycombe straight back up again but lost the League One playoff final.
Ainsworth again has Wycombe challenging for promotion, sit-in just three points outside the playoffs after five wins in a row.
A return to Loftus Road could now be on the cards though, just over a year since Ainsworth was linked with a return to PNE.
Football Insider claimed that North End explored a deal for Ainsworth before appointing Ryan Lowe.
However, the compensation required to get Ainsworth out of Wycombe was considered too expensive for PNE.
Ainsworth had three spells at North End as a player and remains a popular figure with fans.
Should Ainsworth secure his move to QPR, he would be managing against PNE in April as the two sides meet at Loftus Road.