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'I'M A MUSICIAN FIRST'

Former Premier League star and sacked EFL boss will focus on music if football career stalls

The former QPR boss released his debut album in July while still coaching in the Championship

FORMER Wycombe and QPR head coach Gareth Ainsworth has revealed his plans to focus on music if he fails to secure a managerial position.

The 50-year-old was sacked by QPR last month after six defeats in a row left them 23rd in the Championship.

Gareth Ainsworth, second from right, says he is a singer first and manager second
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Gareth Ainsworth, second from right, says he is a singer first and manager secondCredit: Ian Tuttle
He is the singer of The Cold Blooded Hearts who released their debut album in July
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He is the singer of The Cold Blooded Hearts who released their debut album in JulyCredit: Ian Tuttle

Three months before he was dismissed, he released his debut album with band Cold Blooded Hearts.

And he has now revealed he will continue to focus on that part of his life while out of football.

Speaking to the , he said: "I'm a musician first, that's what I always say to people.

"Somebody told me, when you've got nothing, you've got to have some focus; that focus for me is getting better at the guitar."

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Ainsworth enjoyed spells with a number of big clubs during his playing career including Preston, Port Vale, Wimbledon, QPR and Wycombe.

He even played 10 games for Wimbledon in the Premier League in the late 1990s.

After being appointed Wycombe manager in 2012, he spent 12 years with the club, taking them from League Two to the Championship after they won the League One play-offs in 2020.

They were relegated at the end of their first season in the second tier, but Ainsworth stayed for the 2021/22 campaign, before he left for QPR in February.

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Ainsworth played 10 Premier League games for Wimbledon
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Ainsworth played 10 Premier League games for WimbledonCredit: Getty
Ainsworth led Wycombe to the Championship in 2020
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Ainsworth led Wycombe to the Championship in 2020Credit: Getty

However, a difficult time at Loftus Road has left his stock lower than it was 12 months ago.

It means he has turned to music as he prepares to give it a real go with Cold Blooded Hearts.

And Ainsworth, a big fan of rock band Motorhead, has even hinted at a potential tour in the US.

He added: "Football is so good to me and I've loved it throughout my career but you never know."

"I've been a football player, a football manager and then I could be touring with a rock band in America.

"If that could come off, wow!"

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