Gareth Ainsworth has revealed that a text message from former Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill helped alleviate pressure on him ahead of Wycombe Wanderers' play-off triumph.
The Chairboys defeated Oxford United 2-1 at an empty Wembley Stadium in the League One play-off final on Monday evening to seal their promotion to the Championship for the first time in the club's history.
It completes an incredible rise under Ainsworth's stewardship, with Wycombe surviving relegation from the Football League in 2014 on goal difference alone.
Former Black Cats boss O'Neill is a legend himself at Adams Park after guiding the club from the Conference to the third tier of the EFL back in the early '90s.
And a text to Ainsworth from the classy Northern Irishman ahead of their play-off final obviously had a huge impact on Wycombe's current charismatic boss.
Ainsworth told EFL on Quest after their play-off win: “I didn’t want to say anything because it may have railroaded the press but O’Neill text me yesterday, congratulating us on our achievement and wishing all the best, and when someone like that, texts you that, it means so much, and took the pressure off me.”
O'Neill himself was quick to heap praise on the Chairboys manager, describing it as the biggest achievement in the club's history.
The ex-Black Cats boss said: "I’m taken aback by it, he’s been absolutely amazing. He’s been there seven years and I was there five.
"I had the privilege of taking them into the Football League and he has excelled and taken them into the Championship with a budget that you may not even get as a non-league team.
"He’s a fantastic young manager, there’s some resemblances with the squad that I had and what he has there, those players will absolutely die for him, and it’s the best achievement in Wycombe’s history.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland star Luke O'Nien joined the club from Wycombe having come through the youth ranks there.
And he took to Twitter to congratulate his former side.
He wrote: "What an achievement! Congrats @wwfcofficial."
