Wycombe submit intent to re-open Academy in 2025/26

Wycombe Wanderers have taken the next step towards launching a new Academy by formally submitting intent to apply for a Category Four Licence for 2025/26.

The League One club closed their Academy in 2012 as part of cost-cutting measures following the takeover by Wycombe Wanderers Trust. New owner Mikheil Lomtadze, a Kazakh billionaire, prioritised the launch of an Academy when he took over the club in May 2024.

Jeremy Sauer, who joined as Academy Director in August, has written to the EFL to outline the roadmap strategy for the Academy, with the ultimate ambition being to reach Category One status. The strategy details “the alignment of the club’s strategy, infrastructure and staffing” to meet Category Four requirements.

Sauer said: “A Category One Academy is a core part of the club’s vision for the future and we will work tirelessly towards achieving this goal. It is a gradual process and for now our efforts are centred towards preparing our Academy Licence application to begin an academy at Category 4 status.

“We are grateful to the EFL for its guidance to date and look forward to delivering a leading high-performance academy that will contribute positively to both our own and the EFL’s long-term goals.”

Wycombe moved to QPR’s former training ground at Harlington in June 2024 in readiness for the launch of the new Academy. The club expects to be audited by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) towards the end of this season.